Another ‘final reprieve’ for elusive Mansoor Ijaz

Parliamentary committee gives key witness until Feb 10 to appear before it.


Zahid Gishkori January 27, 2012

ISLAMABAD: He’s adamant, but they’re relentless.

Despite two refusals by Mansoor Ijaz to visit Pakistan and appear before the Parlia­mentary Committee on Na­tional Security (PCNS), Memo­gate’s central character has been given another ‘last chance’ to appear before the panel on February 10 and prove his allegations against former envoy to the US Husain Haqqani.

The panel also expressed its ‘satisfaction’ over the security arrangements made by the government for Ijaz.

“We will pass final recommendations in the case if Ijaz fails to appear before the committee on February 10,” said panel’s chief Senator Raza Rabbani while speaking to The Express Tribune.

Recommendations will be forwarded to the “concerned quarter,” he added, not specifying if that would be the prime minister or parliament.

Notice to Ijaz will be issued through the foreign ministry, Rabbani said, adding that the secretary for the judicial commission also probing Memogate will hand over PCNS’ notice to Ijaz, if he arrives to appear before the commission on February 9.

“Neither Ijaz nor his counsel submitted a reply to the committee,” a lawmaker who attended the panel’s Thursday proceedings told The Express Tribune.

“Ijaz is backpedaling on the memo issue,” the lawmaker added while quoting his colleagues’ observations.

Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq briefed the committee on the security arrangements for Ijaz and assured the panel that the government has already announced the best possible arrangements. Rabbani said the government could reconsider the arrangements if it felt the need to do so but lawmakers feel adequate measures have been put into place.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif offered ‘adequate security’ to Ijaz if he came to Punjab to record his statement.

Talking to Express News, Sharif said that he will take personal responsibility of providing complete security to Ijaz during his visit to Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2012.

COMMENTS (17)

Nasir | 12 years ago | Reply

Can we please put the Memogate issue to rest now that Mansoor Ijaz, the star witness in this case, has refused to come to Pakistan? It is quite sad to see that the time of the superior judiciary is being wasted on a political issue while there are hundreds of thousands of people still waiting for justice in cases that have been in the courts for decades. It is time to end the Memogate issue and concentrate on things that are far more important to this country and its people’s well being. Memogate is dead now, it was a conspiracy that ha reached to its logical conclusion. Mansoor Ijaz will never ever visit Pakistan because he knew that he is a liar, he has no moral grounds to prove what he articulated. His aim was to earn fame, so he succeeded because of our silly and insane media and anti Govt judiciary.

Naveen Shah | 12 years ago | Reply

Masoor Ijaz’s lawyer Akram Sheikh is bent upon degrading Pakistan and the whole nation by all means. It is typical Pakistani mentality which Akram Sheikh is exhibiting. There is no need for the memo scandal commission to go abroad to record Mansoor Ijaz’s statement, as if he would have been right in his statement, he would have come to Pakistan. The merit of the case cannot be judged by recording statement of the witness abroad who has created chaos for Pakistan time and again. What one can expect from Mansoor Ijaz. Is he going to talk since in a foreign country? Being a Muslim, Mansoor Ijaz must know that whenever Al-Mighty Allah would like to call him back, any place or the country will not matter.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ