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Sunday, May 06, 2012
Haqqani’s lawyers boycott memo panel’s proceedings* Commission orders forensic test of Ijaz’s handset in London
ISLAMABAD: Expressing their dissatisfaction with the conduct of judicial commission probing the memo scandal, lawyers for former ambassador Husain Haqqani on Saturday decided to boycott its proceedings.
Sajid Tanoli, a counsel for Haqqani, told Daily Times that they were “very disappointed” by proceedings of the commission. “Therefore, we have decided to expose the commission’s unfair behaviour to the public within a few days. We will hold a press conference for the purpose,” he added.
He also objected to having forensic examination of Mansoor Ijaz’s BlackBerry handset after completion of arguments. He added orders for forensic examination of the handset were issued on March 19, asking, “Why have the tests not been done until now?”
“Mansoor Ijaz had the doors for forensic examination shut after handing over his handset,” Tanoli said.
He said that they had also objected to the commission secretary’s visit to London to record the statement of Mansoor Ijaz because the secretary had no authority to go abroad for the purpose.
Zahid Hussain Bukhari, another counsel for Haqqani, also said that having forensic examination of Mansoor Ijaz’s BlackBerry handset after completion of arguments was against the law.
Meanwhile, the commission directed its secretary to travel to London for forensic examination of Mansoor Ijaz’s BlackBerry handset, which had allegedly been used in preparation of the controversial memo.
The commission also rejected an application filed by Bukhari, seeking display of the evidence and documents produced by Haqqani in rebuttal to the evidence produced by Mansoor Ijaz.
The commission directed Raja Jawwad Abbas Hassan, the commission’s secretary, to seek extension in time period from the Supreme Court because the commission “doesn’t have any idea about the time limit required for the forensic test of handsets”.
Earlier, Zahid Bukhari summed up his arguments. He said Mansoor Ijaz was a man of “dubious character” who had not been able to back his statements with proof. Mansoor Ijaz, through his counsel, had said that he was ready to present his BlackBerry handset and the computer to the secretary of the commission for inspection, but any inspection should take place in London.
The commission is headed by Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and consists of Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman and Sindh High Court Chief Justice Musheer Alam. staff report/agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk