ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has referred former ambassador to US Husain Haqqani's video statement application to judicial commission probing the Memogate scandal on Tuesday.
Haqqani had filed an application in the apex court through his counsel Asma Jehangir to have his statement recorded just like Mansoor Ijaz's was recorded in London.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, hearing the application, transferred the responsibility to the judicial commission to decide itself whether it wants to record Haqqani's statements via video link or not.
Haqqani had maintained that he cannot return to the country to appear before the judicial commission probing the scandal due to security reasons.
The Supreme Court had allowed Haqqani to travel abroad on a condition that he will return to the country within four days of being summoned by the judicial commission. The court retained its earlier order.
The Supreme Court order stated, “After hearing counsels of the parties in the case, we disposed of this application that order of this court dated 30-01-2012 is intact. The commission without prejudice in case of anybody may adopt a procedure for recording of statement in the interest of justice as desired by it.”
Correction: Express News had earlier reported that the Supreme Court had rejected Haqqani's application. This is incorrect. The application was referred to the judicial commission. The correction has been made.
COMMENTS (9)
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The Memo issue has been a source of disrepute for us as a nation and even greater for all those actors involved in this affair. How could a simple piece of paper bearing no signature and supposedly passed on through clandestine channel be the authentic position of the government? Is such a piece of paper any value for the legal proceeding? It was anticipated that the commission comprising the honorable judges will through it in the dust bin after the preliminary hearing. But unfortunately the commission has further ridiculed the nation as well as the wisdom of the judiciary. It seems that there is an absolute lack of intellect and wisdom in our high ups and their motivation is more to settle their personal vendetta and satisfy the egos than to run the country. The nation has a right to ask why the tax payers money has been misused to follow an inconsequential matter?
Ray Davis was released by Punjab govt and local judiciary after paying the blood money. The fed govt does not control the provincial courts in Punjab. The speed with which the court opened and everything was done was amazing vs. taking two decades on Asghar Khan's case and still counting. Even if the SC was not involved they maintained criminal silence over the whole issure and did not take any action, why?
@Pakistan politics:
Why not? We still live in colonial era where foreigners have more rights than the natives. Mansoor Ijaz is a foreigner so is superior under Pakistani law, apparently.
Both the SC and the Commission consisting of three CJ of high courts are playing political football. Both are not finishing the issue of treating MI and HH equal and record their statments and be done with. Looks like they have nothing else or more imp to do than the ping pong match. So many judges and so few decisions!
It is ironic that the same people who were calling HH an American not too long ago are now insisting that he is a Pakistani citizen! Only a fool would come back and trush this PCO judiciary who has such a long ignominous history. If the courts cannot treat the accused equal to the actual perpetrator of memo and deliever then there is no hope of any justice from this court. The court has appointed MI their only witness and prosecutor at the same time instead of main character in the "crime". Being a lifetime opponent and hater of Pakistan and army finally paid off for Ijaz! While HH who was shamelessly supporting Pakistan army after May 2 is treated as step son of Pakistan.
I, Aamir Ahsan Khan want to take this opportunity to thank all you people for your comments with reference to my case, which was literally lost in oblivion for the past 14 years. Despite all my efforts to pursue my right through every possible route, I never achieved any constructive outcome. However 13th February, 2012 changed the dynamics of this case altogether. Express Tribune and its correspondent, Mr. Asad Kharal have been a huge pillar of support and a very genuine platform of reaching out to the public to not just win support for my cause but also to reveal the realities to all those Pakistanis, who remain ignorant about the real nature of transparency networks in our country. Mr. Harris Tahauid of GEO took a bold step and become the first to aired my story on 0900 NEWS bulletin 5 March, 2012. After that Mr.Imran Hafeez of DAWN NEWS also aired my story on 11 April, 2012 Now that I have been bestowed with such respect and regard for my patience and efforts, all I wish to achieve is recognition from the relevant authorities and the officials at National Accountability Bureau (NAB). This in my opinion will be the real face of justice and reward. Kind regards, Aamir Ahsan Khan e-mail: case.aak@gmail.com
But SC can accept Mansoor Ijaz's video link request