ISLAMABAD: Former director-general Inter-Services Intelligence Shuja Pasha revealed before the memo commission on Thursday that there was no military coup planned after the May 2 raid in Abottabad that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. “Had it been planned ISI would have known.”
The commission probing into the Memogate scandal resumed its hearing, headed by Justice Faiz Esa at the Islamabad High Court.
The central player in the scandal Mansoor Ijaz had said in his testimony that after the Abbottabad incident, former ambassador to the United States Haqqani had approached him, citing fears that the Military in Pakistan was moving for a coup over the democratically elected government.
To confirm what Haqqani had told him, Ijaz had said that he had used his contacts with the intelligence agencies of different countries to verify this information.
Today, while speaking before the commission, Pasha said only the military leadership was consulted about Ijaz’s article in the Financial Times.
He also said that he did not know Ijaz before meeting him.
Ijaz's counsel Akram Shaikh while cross-examining Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF),Yasin Malik, asked him if Malik was an Indian national and held an Indian passport.
The commission directed Bukhari to only question Malik about the allegations made by Ijaz and ask “relevant questions.”
Shaikh said that Malik had met Indian external intelligence agency The Research and Analysis Wing’s (RAW) officials for which he had video records, which he will produce before the commission whenever it asks.
Malik, while snubbing the allegation said that he had never met any officials from any agencies and that he will undergo any penalty if proven wrong.
Former director-general Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Shuja Pasha is also present before the commission to get his statements recorded.
The commission will pen down his statement, while his counsel Ahsan Zafar will give statements before the court.
The commission expressed dissatisfaction over former ambassador to United States Hussain Haqqani’s appeal to adjourn the hearing.
Justice Esa told Haqqani’s counsel Zahid Bukhari that if his client was not well then he should not have taken up such an important duty [of an envoy].
He further said that earlier Haqqani had undertaken that he will appear before the commission within four days whenever he is summoned.
COMMENTS (18)
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So when Mansoor Ijaz says that the memo sent to Jim Jones was based on Haqqani's dictation and we do not have any evidence to prove that Pasha feels we should believe Ijaz. When the same Ijaz says that he was convinced that army was planning a coup, according to Pasha we should not believe him.A bit selective -eh?
An expected diversion.
In every case there is a prosecutor, witnesses and neutral judge(s) to meet min standards of justice. In this case the witness is a foreign VIP who the judges are using as prosecutor and treating him like a king who never lied in his life. By accepting the conditions of Ijaz the court has made a new exception in its history. However, they have denied the same to HH. In addition instead of proving HH guilty the court wants HH to help prove him guilty or testify and provide proofs against himself. It is the right of HH not to help the prosecuting judges and let them prove their allegations against him. He is innocent till proven guilty.
Regarding Yasin Malik meeting RAW officials: In Pakistan this happens all the time. Sharifs and Ch. Nisars of Pakistan continue to meet ISI officials in the dark.
@Blithe: This Commission was formed to investigate the Memogate which is to find out who is the real author of the memo. How does Yasin Malik even come into this? I totally fail to understand.
commission could have passed orders against haqqani - instead expressing regrets - had there been a common poor person entire 'law' quoted raped around his body, fate a jail - this appearently difference of management of justice in this 'islamic' county! too bad.
“Had it been planned ISI would have known.”
The things the ISI should know about but doesn't would take far too much time to list.
Yes, because they can only know if the coup is planned or not. When it comes to knowing about Abottabad or PNS Mehran they are clueless.
Ah; What do u expect Pasha to say "Yeah, We planned a military takeover. But because the civvies got the wind of it, we cancelled it".
Pasha and Kayani are maybe true patriots but they worked a lot for US interests in the region
i think memo case is totally a DRAMA, it will result nothing except wastage of time and hussain haqqni should not appear because commission has set precedent by allowing mansoor ijaz to appear before commission on video link and they should allow haqqani to appear on video link. and there is a life threat to haqqani in pakistan
If Malik holds an Indian passport and meets the Indian RAW, why should Pakistanis cry???
@blithe..nevertheless yasin as an Indian citizen can surely have done no wrong in meeting Indian officials. If he is not an Indian citizen what passport does he carry? It was a valid question trivialised by the commission.
@Raj - USA: Kashmir is a very sensitive issue around an internationally disputed territory. These are very valid questions to ask.
It is not as trivial as you make it out to be.
Side show still going on? Public has already left...those who are waiting are here to clean the stage as soon as you leave..
And Haqqani has now issues with his heart. What a lame justice system we have.
stop this farce it is only benefiting court officials no one has ever paid so much attention to somebody who is so little in chracter and credibility
Mansoor Ijaz’s counsel Akram Shaikh while cross-examining Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF),Yasin Malik, asked him if Malik was an Indian national and held an Indian passport. The commission directed Bukhari to only question Malik about the allegations made by Ijaz and ask “relevant questions.”
When Yasin Malik is an Indian Citizen, holding Indian passport, what is wrong for him to meet the Indian Intelligence Chief? Mansoor Izaz being an American Citizen has met officials of American Intelligence Dept. Pasha as Intelligence Chief has met Mansoor Izaz. Nothing wrong with these !!!!
In essence the Commission is asking Akram Shaikh to ask only those questions that would support the preconceived notion that the Commission holds.