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Mansoor Ijaz will not come to Pakistan: Akram Sheikh
Lawyer says current security arrangements look like a well-orchestrated trap to hold Ijaz indefinitely in Pakistan.
Akram Sheikh writes another letter to attorney general to seek details of security arrangements during Ijaz’s hearing. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
ISLAMABAD: Mansoor Ijaz has expressed his reservations with the security arrangements made in Pakistan for his arrival, and has therefore requested the judicial commission to record his statements in London or Zurich, his counsel Akram Sheikh said on Monday.
Speaking to the media in Islamabad, Sheikh said that he had held a teleconference with Ijaz after meeting with IG Police Islamabad and had briefed his counsel about the security arrangements that have been made for him.
“No assurance has been given with regards to his [Ijaz's] life or property. It seems like a well-orchestrated trap to hold Ijaz indefinitely in Pakistan… He refuses to knowingly fall into the government’s trap,” he added.
On Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s assurances of arranging the army for Ijaz’s security, Sheikh said: “I don’t trust Rehman Malik. I trust Husain Haqqani more than I trust Rehman Malik… Did Benazir Bhutto not die in this country even after getting security assurances?”
The lawyer added that Ijaz is concerned about Pakistan’s money not being wasted and thus does not want the security to waste its money on him. “So, he wants to record his statement while sitting in his office in London. He is ready to tell the truth and present all grafts to the commission.”
Earlier during the day, Sheikh said he had written another letter to the attorney general seeking details of the security being provided to Ijaz during his visit to Pakistan.
He also met Inspector General of Police (IG) Islamabad, who assured him that security will be provided to Mansoor Ijaz.
The judicial commission probing the Memogate scandal has ordered Ijaz to appear before the court personally to record his statements.
The Pakistani-American businessman had expressed reservations over security when he was summoned by the judicial commission to record his statements. He claimed that he and his family were being threatened.
On Saturday, Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq had finalised the security arrangements for Ijaz in consultation with the Defence Secretary.
Sheikh had earlier said that by excluding the army from the security, the government wanted to deprive his client of providing valuable evidence linking President Asif Ali Zardari to the memo, while Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had reiterated on Sunday that the government does not wish to spend billions of rupees for his security.
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Reader Comments (50)
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Mansoor is an American citizen and simply wants security and protection from Pakistani government. Kindly note in the past the police and rangers do not have a good track record for protecting our citizens.
I don’t blame him for seeking full security protection. For example personally I am not comfortable travelling to Peshawar with terrorism threat. Ant thing can happen in our beloved country.
We have wasted billions on rental power plants, PIA, railway, steel mill etc and now spending billions (seems too high) on Mansoor’s security according to PM will at least BRING THE TRUTH OUT OF THIS MEMOGATE SCANDAL.
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Security provided by the police is not reliable. Salman Taseer was killed by his police guard. Mansoor Ijaz is an important witness in a high profile case of treason charges and he has been invited by the Judicial Commission. It is the responsibility of the Government to provide him fool proof security according to his satisfaction, even if entails some extra expenditure.
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If Mansoor is that concerned, why doesn’t he contact his government to provide him security. There must be numerous ‘Raymond Davis’ available in Pak to fulfill this job, I am sure,
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If Manzoor Ijaz is right this time he is right in the past also, if he is wrong in past he is wrong this time as simple as that.
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He never wanted to come. Created a storm in a teacup and we all fell for it. Shame on us! We are not a nation, we a herd! Our media, judges and military literally manage us!
Mansoor Ijaz’s Stupidisco is apt title for this whole charade!
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PM has clearly stated government’s stand. Wonder SC’s next move; will it invoke Article 245 and force Army into another confrontration of institutions.
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Why don’t they hold a tele-conference with Mansoor Ijaz? It is easy and cost effective. Make use of the technology !!
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I am not that intelligent, but i think mansoor Ijaz can attend the court proceeding by Audio Visual support.
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Honestly; we are the only nation in the world who instead of encouraging getting evidence against (alleged) conspiracy against state, discourage it.
And all this is being done in name of democracy?.
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@butt jee:
Who killed Gen Zia?. If the investigating agency is unable to findout the truth, obviously it means…….! Yes you are correct?
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not a surprise
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Another senior lawyer Akram Sheikh losing his credibility due to a lier.I am sure he will not be available any where on one pretext or other.
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So a new branch of high court in London or Zurich is coming up . . .!!!!!
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Cheating… We were hoping to see some drama and action… :(
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The Army, the Government and the Judiciary are all playing dramas. It is a shame nobody believes the Army, the Government and the Judiciary. The Judicial Commission can conduct inquiry through video conference but they will not do this of reasons best known to them. Or they can visit US to record his statements and obtain evidence.Recommend
This is becoming so ludicrous that it’s no longer worth following.
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Msnsoor Ejaz is an anit paksitan and anti Establishment of US citizen . He just used all our institution’s to show that how much we are fool and how much we can play a hand of our own enemy. His past shows that he wrote a number of article against our Army and our ISI and still we have trust to this man….we showed to the rest of the World that yes we are Foolish peoples and a nation. shameful time for we peoples..!!!
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Akram Shaikh Sahib would you please also go and stay with Mansoor Aijaz, where you can serve him better. Pakistan would be better off without you.
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Incorrect English at end of article. Please correct itRecommend
It’s important that Mansoor Ijaz is present in person in court so he could be forced to answer questions by court if he is reluctant to answer any question that goes against him.
Separately, when he arrives he should be treated as the enemy of the state that he is and cases enacted accordingly then he should only be handed back to US in exchange for Afia Siddiqui. It will be idiotic to not use this opportunity to make US return Afia, for those who think Afia is innocent.
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in this case we have to agree with the government
calling army for the protection of mansoor ejaz is uncalled for.
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Why not send the judicial commission to London to record his statement. It will be a cheaper alternative.
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@TN, Advocate:
Why not first provide that level of security to the citizen’s of Pakistan who pay the taxes to pay for these soldiers’ salaries, and are still dying in numbers? Isn’t military supposed to protect its own citizen first? Why are people of Pakistan so dispensable? Do you think another country would do that ie give less importance to its own citizens and more importance to a foreigner? Only we do it as we are mentally still slaves.
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why is he making another video now?
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I think video conferencing will do the job. But Supreme court would record that I guess Will MI come forward even then? I doubt it. I think he is taking Pak for a ride. He tried that with India as well for Kashmir settlement and Vajpayee didnt take his bait.,
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Hahahahahaha…. This is so funny! The man has been making a fool of the establishment and they fell for it big time !! Now let them try and bring him to Pakistan. Why not send a whole bunch of judges to a neutral country to try him? This is no more silly than all the things that have transpired in this so-called “MemoGate”.
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Enough with spicing up drama, what’s the point of coming to Pakistan and pleading for security measures? Security or no security, it makes no real difference as anything can happen one way or the other. It’s better off to give out what you got in stored far far away! In a country where corruption is spread wide loose, a rational human being shouldn’t even think of stepping without a reliable security source.
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The Prime Minister is right that we can not provide Viceroy’s security to Mansoor Ijaz. We already have 1100 VICEROYS in this country. just watch them when the roads are closed for them and one person is escorted by dozens of vehicles and private guards besides army, rangers and police guards. Such a protocol treatment is unprecedented even in Kingdoms
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@shuja:
I agree with your comment ‘Senior’, but losing credibility won’t affect him.
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Ha ha ha ha…This had to happen
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I agree with the PM that it is waste of money to spend billions on a US citizen in Pakistan just because he is important witness. It is equally waste of money to spend billions of rupees on a Pakistani citizen living and moving around Pakistan but just selected to use title of Prime Minister or President !!!
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Mansoor Ijaz is a liar & an american citizen… He is Anti Pakistan, anti army and anti nuclear programme…!
Mr.Sheikh do you like to tell me that an american citizen require a high profile security…?
Then what about the security of 180,000,000 Pakistaniz…?
You & your promoters should think on this point as well töö…!
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Recommend if you also think Court will order to continue proceeding through Audio/Visual aid.
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@Umer:
Absolutely right.
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Dear Judges!!
Treat it this way, if his evidence is quite remarkable in deciding the case than all the security cost will be born in by Haqqani as a fine and if he found lying than all cost will born in by him as fine!!! This can be done only if you guys are sincere!!
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Mansoor Ejaz is running the puppet show in Pakistan while sitting thousands of miles away.
His hands are not as long as his puppet strings.
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@rsk: “Why not send the judicial commission to London to record his statement. It will be a cheaper alternative.”
That is what he wants. To say what he wants in a recording WITHOUT being cross-examined by an expert lawyer. He has made some very strong accusations. If anyone is to be convicted based on that, that person deserves the privilege to have his lawyer cross-examine EjazRecommend
Can a foreigner be tried for giving false testimony. If not, there is no point in accepting his evidence. Right?
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Please noteth e basics of justice system. I am also not a Lawyer but have spent many years fighting for justice.
1. Tele conference, video recording or other use of technology is not required in first stage of a trial when accusations are made and statements are read. The Accused and those Accusing must be present in court.. Its basic right of Accused to face accuser in presence of a judge.
2. Burden of Proof rests on Accusers. Demanding Accused to prove innocence is wrong..
3. If Justice system cannot provide Security and Safety to all parties involved, it negates its foundation.
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Wrong again ! Its a trap to keep us stupid and ill-informed as always.. I bet a token Rs.100 to defend my views. Ha Ha!
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@Irtiza: I agree. Mr Ijaz trusts Mr Davis I can bet
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Now the judiciary should pull its own hair. Somebody in a foreign country makes a statement, and an inquiry is ordered, a judicial commission is set up, war of words between army and the government and the media entertained the masses for whole month. Now this somebody made fool of our institutions. Long live Pakistan.
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MEMOGATE IS OUR DIRTY LAUNDRY AND IN THE WEST WE HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE CLEANERS. I don’t blame Mansoor for not coming!
IF WE WANT THE TRUTH THEN GO BY HIS TERMS OR TAKE THE COMMISSION TO LONDON OR DUBAI otherwise the blame game will continue.
Why can’t we bring things to a logical end?
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Looking at memogate episode from outside, it is clear that Mr Mansoor Ijaz has successfully skewered Pakistan internally and made the country look immature. Best of luck.
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How can he trust the government which is protecting Haqqani by keeping him in the PM house? Remember, he is going to testify against the same Haqqani.
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This story is total JOKE!!!
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I think Mansoor Ijaz must come to Pakistan if he really has proofs on memogate scandal against Hussain Haqqani.
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I heard Mr. Akram Shaikh saying ” If my client does not turns up on 24th, I will quit from his case”. I hope he does so. I personally feel that this advocate is a mentally disturbed. Watch him closely when he speaks bursts out.
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Its a laugh that Rehman Malik is guaranteeing security for Ijaz. Malik could not even protect his own party leader, what can the common man expect from him ? Unless there was a bigger game to play in Benazir’s demise and installation of Z as President. The mind boggles….
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Mansoor Ijaz is good and true person. He should get security. Why prime minister travels with 100s of security cars? Doesn’t he is spending billions on his security? Did we people of Pakistan said him to travel with those many cars.
Does any cricket teams is willing to come to Pakistan? Every body know what has happend to Sirlankan team. Is security was sufficient? Today situation is too worse compare to that time. He is the person who holds credible information and could lead to wiped out existing government. In this case Government is the main culprit.
Just put you in Mansoor place and think could you go in this extream condition to pakistan. Moreover, you are getting a threatning call from those people who are responsible for security. :)
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