Mansoor Ijaz, who delivered the controversial memo to the then US military chief Admiral Mike Mullen through former US national security adviser Gen James Jones – apparently at the behest of Husain Haqqani – on Friday agreed to place before a court-mandated judicial commission all the conversations he had with Haqqani.
He also submitted the personal identification (PIN) details of the BlackBerry devices he used to communicate with Haqqani – as well as the details of the devices allegedly used by the former ambassador.
Ijaz has called out the ambassador to prove his innocence before the three-member commission, headed by Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa.
Waiving his privacy rights, which may be a stumbling block in obtaining key data from mobile service provider Research in Motion (RIM), Ijaz also asked the commission to get Haqqani to do the same.
Ijaz submitted this in his application through his counsel Advocate Akram Sheikh to the secretary of judicial commission Raja Jawwad Abbas Hassan. He informed the commission, though his counsel, that, after receiving Supreme Court’s order, he had already sent a notice to RIM surrendering his privacy rights in favour of the commission.
Ijaz seems keen on helping the commission bypass all potential delays given the short time span it has to complete investigations.
He drew out all the people the court needs to contact to request BlackBerry for the data of communication between him and Haqqani.
First, he appealed to the commission to send a forensic specialist to visit the two server sites of RIM one in Berkshire UK and second in Irving, Texas USA.
He also requested the commission to direct the concerned authorities in Pakistan to contact the chief legal officer of RIM and the heads of the European and USA divisions of RIM where the servers are located, within one week after January 9, to officially request for the data.
As for personally appearing before the commission, Ijaz asked it to direct the Pakistani High Commission in London to issue a visa immediately – and also asked for the commission to ensure that he be provided adequate security.
He informed the commission that forensic specialist of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will not be able to complete his task of obtaining data from RIM’s offices before January 16 – therefore, he will be available to the commission from 16 to 20 January.
He said that he is also willing to submit his handsets to the forensic specialist appointed by the commission for forensic investigation. The next sitting of the commission is on January 9.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2012.
COMMENTS (39)
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@Mirza: {RIM has all their hopes and future depending upon the 47th economy of the world.} Dear Mirza Sb. You need not be so sarcastic all the time. Your unnecessary cynicism detracts from your overall credibility regarding most issues which is unfortunate. I do share most of your thoughts when presented in a cool / balanced manner. Regards, Your well wisher
@observer: "Some questions just can not be answered so simplistically" 'For example ask someone if the person has stopped beating his wife, and tell him if he is honest he should just say Yes or No"
You are absolutely right. Everyone is either fully absolving HH of any complicity or considering him fully responsible. The truth most definitely lies in between and it is only the degree of innocence or complicity that matters.
Their is no doubt that HH knew about the MEMO. MI cannot conjure it out of thin air and dare submit it to USA Military High Command. However there is nothing earth shattering or trecherous in the basic idea of MEMO. Asking USA military help against percieved Army takeover is understandable in our peculiar historical context and not unprecedented. Promising to replace Army chief (Govt. right), promising more proactive role against militants and bringing MUMBAI accused to serious trial cannot be termed as treason. The question is did MI spiced up the contents of MEMO as per his known mindset against ARMY / ISI? Of course the Blackberry records confirm interaction with HH on the issue. But do they specifically mention the controversial parts regarding American boots on ground, complete overhaul of security apparatus with officers of USA liking and compromising nuclear assets etc. If HH initiated or knew about the final contents of the submitted MEMO, then he is in serious trouble and liable to be charged with TREASON. Otherwise he should not worry. Unfortunately in the present charged atmosphere even partial ownership will be concieved as full ownership and maybe thats why he has opted for complete denial raising all sorts of suspicions.
Please note that I am not a HH supporter and would willingly support any punishment (including death penalty) if the scandolus contents of the MEMO turn out to be the brainwave of HH.
ET Editor: This is my 4th attempted post on the issue and hope it will be approved this time. There is a dire need of cool headed / detached analysis without predetermined FOR or AGAINST comments.'
Manor Ijaz is a very clever man. I am glad he has asked that Haqqani also surrender his privacy rights to the information contained on RIM's servers. I'll be interested to se if a. If Haqqani surrenders the privacy rights and b. What RIM does after that.
Like all dramas this is a nail biting one.
@Mirza: Thomas White - shows that Pakistan stands at 44 number and not on 47 as you mentioned in your post. Wikipedia link you provided doesn't work. I would urge you to do a search through google and look again Pakistan's ranking at wikipedia also and other sites apart from Thomas white - You would know that the ranking differs on websites. I hope that we as Pakistani's should not believe what others say and start believiing ourselves more!
@KiJ
if HH is not guilty, he should have no problem disclosing his BB records as well…
Some questions just can not be answered so simplistically. For example ask someone if the person has stopped beating his wife, and tell him if he is honest he should just say Yes or No. Try it.
@Syed: I was only giving facts. GDP is the main measure of the economy of the country. One can play with other numbers but this is the real standard. I am giving the ref which I did not make. You have every right to make Pakistani economy as high as you want. I only wish that Pakistan's economy was that high? Thanks and regards, Mirza
http://www.thomaswhite.com/explore-the-world/pakistan.aspx http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ListofcountriesbyGDP_%28nominal%29
Problem with HH is that on his black berry there is too much than just a memo scandal.We will see it eventually Inshalla.
Mr. Mansoor Ijaz will submit everything that the Commission asks for but I feel he will NEVER come to Pakistan. And would that not be an apt drop scene to this total farce cropped up by we all know who? I agree with all that Ms. Asma Jahangir says about the judiciary but for some reason I still need to be convinced that the Balochistan Chief Justice Qazi Faez Issa will not act fairly. He might, just might, pull out something that will save democracy. God help him to act fairly.
@Mirza: Really, I see the report presenting Pakistan standing as on number 27. Where did you get the number? Are you looking at nominal GDP or GDP-PPP.
Are you really neutral in providing the numbers OR you are just bend on presenting the dark side? As for dark side it can be any Country btw.
if HH is not guilty, he should have no problem disclosing his BB records as well...but can he, will he?
@Imran: Would you care if your information is being shared as a result of US-Canada Border deal? If yes, ask yourself a question, what you can or cannot do about it (I guess probably nothing)? If no, then you really don't need to press for not sharing information that concerns a country's national security - because it's none of your business unless you are gaining anything here? let see if you can educate yourself before lecturing others :)
@John B: Well it does handover when it serves financial oligarchs. This time it doesn't so no help from Blackberry.
Can we stop calling him 'Pakistani American'? He is American.
@Acorn Guts: Utter nonsense you typed there! If I'm Canadian, would I give a damn about ISI's so-called "National Security"?
@A: Your two back to back comments are contradictory. Regarding your first comment: 1. Pakistan is no China 2. How is an act of "filtering publicly available information" related to releasing "private information". 3. Canada is not ISI's Pakistan. There are strict privacy laws. 4. In which country, hiding the information of public interest is a crime? Pakistan or Canada? Which clause?
Please get out of your cocoon and educate yourself how the world works outside of Pakistan.
@John B: right you are....the only reason why most people still use RIM BB is because they know their level of trust will not be intentionally broken by the company....and thats exactly what the company still manages to hold supreme...furthermore, it is an internal matter for Pakistan....why the hell would RIM (a foreign entity) comply, when they are under no pressure to let go of their business ethics?
The problem with some of the people is that they set rules according to their needs and broke them according to their needs.
@MarkH: Hiding information related to interest of general public is a crime. If this information has anything to do with the sovereignty of Pakistan then RIP is oblige to share this information.
When China wanted to ban some information on google site then US government called it against people's freedom. Now when Pakistan S.C is asking to share BlackBerry info then how this info has become confidential.
@Anonymous: Unlike most Pakistanis in the public eye, there are those who value their integrity and keep their word. You'd call it "they may as well throw their self respect away since they won't be around much longer." Respectable people don't think that way.
RIM should cooperate when it comes to matters of national security. If RIM insists on providing safe mode of communication to terrorists, anti-state agents and malicious saboteurs then they are as good as party to the crime themselves. There are business ethics and then there are matters that supersede those ethics.
IF HH is INNOCENT then why is he not cooperating with the courts and what he or his protectors are worried about???
@ John B: I am afraid that a refusal by RIM will lead to it being banned in Pakistan. RIM is already dying. Being out of Pakistan will only expedite the process.
This guy did what was done with Pakistan cricketers.
HH's messages can me retrived from Mansoor ijaz's phone. sent and received messages both are there in the phone. there is no need of HH's pin. I have no idea about the legalities but its my point of view.
Its a great mess already, its better that the truth comes out as early as possible for good of all. Mr HH, i think has already repeatedly expressed his desire to come clean on this issue and is more than expected to cooperate with this legal commission. Very simple things at times become really complicated, one thing to me is more than certain and obviously evident that those who are playing this at the heart of matter are deadly averse to stability and peace in Pakistan.
As stated by Mr. HH he is innocent, we expect him to fully cooperate with the commission. If he is not guilty, there is nothing to be afraid of.
HH should also submit the Black Berry PIN and turn over the equipment.
if he does not do this,I would have very serious doubts about his stance
i think we should replace picture of Jinnah with Mansoor Ijaz on Pak Rupee note.
This would be inline with the new banana republic status that Mansoor has given us.
Bet HH will not submit his PIN even though he can do it from the safe confines of Govt housing.
Does the commission has the authority to summon Head Of the State? I doubt that, could ET please confirm if commission has really summoned the President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan???
The day RIM hand over the messages to PAK judicial commission the company is dead, and that day will be when the hell freezes over.
RIM will fight tooth and nail the request or will totally ignore the commission request.
Lollywood was always in need of a good looking villain.
HH is innocent till proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He is not obliged to help the prosecution and should follow his lawyer's advice. Do not try to be a hero HH.