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Abbottabad commission: Can't come to Pakistan due to poor health, says Shamsul Hasan
Shamsul Hassan says his physician has prescribed him to avoid air travel.
Hassan says his physician has prescribed him not to air travel. PHOTO: PID/FILE
LONDON: Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Wajid Shamsul Hassan on Saturday refused to present himself in front of the Abbottabad commission due to his poor health.
Speaking to Express News in London, Shamsul Hasan said that his physician has prescribed him to avoid air travel.
However, Shamsul Hasan requested the commission to let him answer the questions over video conferencing.
The commission rejected his request and directed him to come to Pakistan.
The commission formed to probe the May 2 operation at the alleged compound of Osama bin Laden, had earlier summoned Shamsul Hasan over statements he had made regarding the raid.
He was asked to appear before the panel by the end of December, however, no specific date was given for his interview.
An Indian TV channel had telecast an interview of Shamsul Hassan during which he had claimed that the Pakistan government was aware of the operation. He had said that Bin Laden’s presence in the area was known 10 days before the operation took place
Shamsul Hasan also did not attend the conference of Pakistani envoys in Islamabad.
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He is also a state within a state… answerable only to Mr. Zardari.
If he is so sick that he can’t even travel by air then how can he run efficiently the affairs of the Pakistan govt. in UK? And Abbottabad commission was made by govt. not by supreme court.
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This is an Good one .Pakistan ambassador can not travel due to health reasons to home country .He is following the foot steps of President Zardari .If an ambassador is un fit to carry the duties and have an active life he should be discharges/retired from his duties at once .And in future Gov of Pakistan should take an fitness /health test before appointing Ambassadors .
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Fraud Alert! (:
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Ah, these so-called Champions of our very own Democracy are above all laws.
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Being a patriotic Pakistani, he must come to Pakistan. In case he is too ill to travel to Pakistan at all, he ought to be replaced and brought to Pakistan for the evidence in view of his statement to Indian TV channel. It will be another minus for the government, if he does not come.
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Offer him his job back and see how fast the recovery will be: Its people like these who give Pakistan a bad nameRecommend
making ‘lame excuses’ of being sick and barred from travel..he is caught actually red handed! my sympathies are with you wajid sahab..next time play safe..
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He is scared of coming to Pakistan. If he is so sick then he should resign and be treated in a hospital and let some healthy person work as Pakistan’s High Commissioner!!!!
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Sounds more like he found out something that makes returning to Pakistan and speaking of it a scary idea.
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Waiting for the day when another epidemic befalls this wretched nation . . . when the truth breaks out and infects everyone.
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If he’s too ill to take a 6 hour flight to Pakistan, that too probably on a First Class seat, then he should resign and the PM taken to task as to why our Ambassador to one of the most important country in the world is still there when he is incapable of functioning!
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LOL! It looks like Shamsul Hassan has taken lessons from corrupt Indian politicians who all very promptly “develop” various diseases and health conditions as soon as they are arrested for corruption.
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Can’t come to Pakistan due to poor intention!!!
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The PPP govt and Wajid Shamas Ul Hasan are determind to make mokery of Abbottabad commission and other commissions.Thats why we are happy at SC for memo and PPP is not.
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how convenient!
now the commission would have to bear the cost of appointing a neutral British doctor to verify these claims…
btw, if his health is really that poor, he really shouldnt be burdened with the job of being our high commissioner to UK…someone please relieve him of his charge
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Mr. Shamas, What about your recent private visit to Scotland. If you remember me I was sitting three seats behind you and we had a 30 min chat. You looked alright. It was just 28/DEC. You cannot deny there must be something else stopping you
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if this is the level of patriotism and loyalty of our ambasadors to their home land, if they are unhealthy why they have not retired, and why they want to live for ever in foreign countriesRecommend
Then how is he deemed FIT to head one of Pakistan’s MOST IMPORTANT Diplomatic Missions i.e. High Commissioner to UK ??? Something is MURKY here… :)
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so, then is he fit enough to be given charge of such duties????
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Oooops President’s disease has spread. lets see who else comes under attack
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OMG! please relieve the poor guy from the office
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Lame excuse!!
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He’ll never come, and b never fit again, dual citizenship & questionable past and present
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The way the case was handled at SC he is unlikely to get justice in Pakistan. Stay in UK where you are safe unlike Baqar Shah.
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Now the commission should enquire about his entry and should direct the authorities to sumup to pay the damages of of commons which they face in state and universal war and give a read map for the end shia sunni training centers. Or they may be asked to prove themselfs by the virtue of holy bookRecommend
He was fit enough to go to
Switzerland to take control of
legal documents filed against Zardari.
What has happened now?
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Good for him — he knows this is an incredible waste of time/resources and any questions they may ask can just as well be answered by video conference.Recommend
This guy will be fine if he has to travel Geneva for collecting Zardari related papers. He has cases against him for misappropriating secret funds of embassy. He should be brought back
and if he does not come he should relieved of his position by the “Chief Executive”.Recommend
I seem to recall that Pasha left town and went to China when he got summoned- said he had more important things to do. Hassan won’t be the first person not to take the Commission seriously.
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British Citizens are not accountable to the Pakistan government.
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Wajid Sahib:
If you are unable to come to Pakistan to present yourself before the Abbottabad Commission due to poor health, then how come you are still working as Ambassador of Pakistan in UK?
The better option is that you should send your resignation; otherwise in few days time the Prime Minister is going to call you and if even then you won’t come to Pakistan, you will be fired from the job and the investigations will keep pending until you arrive Pakistan.
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I beggars belief that he is permitted to continue to hold this position,I am constantly embarrassed by his performances in the UK media,one that stands out the most for me is when he was interviewed by SKY News and was chewing gum throughout !!!Recommend
Good decision by the ambassador otherwise he too would be treated like Hussain Haqqani. It is now quite clear that in Pakistan the real power lies not with the civilian government but with the powerful army. All state institutions work for them. Is not it astonishing that instead of inquiring how the world’s terrorist number one was hiding in military cantonment, the committee is trying to implicate civilians. It is very unfortunate that for the world Pakistan is a democracy but in reality this country is not better than Mayanmar. Any one who speaks against powerful establishment is taught a lesson. Only recently Dr Baqar Shah was killed in cold blood because he gave report against the powerful Frontier Constabulary. They made an example of Saleem Shahzad. This military hegemony is the prime reason for all our ills. If this situation continues, it is difficult that Pakistan can survive in 21st century. The developed world is not fool that they dont allow their military to involve in the politics of their countries.
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Too sick to fly…..okay, he can travel to Pakistan on a ship ! Every ship has an on-borard doctor and even a hospital.
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He should resign if having poor health .We do not want an ambassador in such a high profile country wit poor health.Recommend
There is only one law in this country which is military law & no one is above it in this land of pure>
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His health is ok when he has to travel to Switzerland on a moment notice to take possession of all the record of corruption cases. He is perfectly fine for that trip. :->Recommend
After watching entrapment of Haqqani he is smart not to venture. A secured conference call will save state exchequer some euros.
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Why this man in poor health is still an ambassador?
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There is always a live video available. Why not use it?
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wow @ kashif alvi….you won! :)
you have my vote for new high commissioner to uk ;p
“Too sick to fly…..okay, he can travel to Pakistan on a ship ! Every ship has an on-borard doctor and even a hospital.”_kashif
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What if he cannot travel if believe the statement. The commision should use the video conference it should tax payer money for his traveling plus time too. Recommend
He knows he is untouchable. So much for democracy.
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The presence of OBL in Abbottabad for over 6 years has nothing to do with far flung diplomats in the world. In Mush’s era OBL was moved and kept in a custom made house way before PPP came into power and both BB and Zardari were not even in Pakistan. How can these people provide any info on OBL being in bed with the army? The commission can interview every person in Pakistan and prolong its functioning and finally blame a Pakistani diplomat who had nothing to do with army base and OBL. Why is SC not asking all the diplomats and politicians to come and testify in Memo trial? No they want to keep focus on that and not waste time like this commission. Everybody who is watching the performance and history of SC knows it never went against the generals and never held them responsible. Wajid has taken lesson from Mush and other politicians and should appoint a lawyer to represent him in the court which is his fundamental right. The deep state wants to have their own people in all important foreign positions. I would not participate in this commission who is looking at everybody but the people who kept OBL in the army base. Was Wajid the ruler when OBL was moved or Gen Mush? Has Mush already appeared before the commission or he is exempted?
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This Commission is wasting time and money. Its great decision not to appear before this useless commission. Can anyone tell please what good this commission would bring? Any doubt, read Saleem Safi’s article.
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Mr. Ambassador.. I hope that you are able to perform your official duties, with such poor health maybe you should be rested…
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He will be put on exit control list by the same authorities that put Haqanni on ECL and provided guest accomodation to Osama and provided him multiple entry VISA with no expiry. Mr Shamsul Hasan, often says funny things but he is not a fool.
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Shamsul Hasan’s name was not in any petitions however Iftikhar Chaudhary came up with his name out of no where (ahem) thus giving the petitioners more than what they asked for. This extra ordinary uncalled for act of kindness by Chaudhary does raise some questions and anyone would be concerned if there will be a fair trial not just Shamsul Hasan.
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I don’t blame Wajid Shamsul Hasan. Just look the treatment Husain Haqqnai received at the hands of the CJ and his team. He was denied his basic fundamental rights. We day dream and still don’t admit that Pakistan is been ruled by Army and ISI. CJ, NAWAZ plus IK are just stooges dancing at their masters order. We will soon find out the truth. After reading through all that is happening in different parts of Pakistan it seems 2012 will be a very difficult year.
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@Babloo:
Imran Khan has said that when he becomes PM foreigners will line up for work visas to Pakistan. I’m sure if OBL were still alive, he would have been the first to be issued the visa by IK.
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Why doesn’t he come by sea?
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He was healthy enough to attend New Year party here in London but not fit to travel to Pakistan.
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Wajid sahab, have you “pulled a muscle” too?
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Our country is being rules by an ill president what to talk of High Commissioner
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He should be relieved of his duties immediately.
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He seems Smart to save himselfRecommend