After four arduous months, proceedings of the Memo Commission finally concluded at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday.
During the final proceedings, the commission directed the foreign office secretary to brief it in-camera regarding secret funds used by former ambassador Hussain Haqqani during his tenure.
This decision was taken after Mansoor Ijaz’s counsel Akram Sheikh claimed to have information that Haqqani received $7 million in secret funds during his three and a half year tenure. Maintaining that the former ambassador reportedly consumed up to $6.7 million out of those funds, Sheikh had requested the commission to start an inquiry on the matter.
Haqqani’s counsel Zahid Bukhari remained absent, continuing his boycott of the commission’s proceedings.
Meanwhile, forensic examination reports of Mansoor Ijaz’s Blackberry set and laptop were made part of the commission’s official record.
Recording his statement, commission secretary Raja Jawad, who submitted the forensic reports, said eight companies were contacted to conduct the examinations and System Technology Consultants Company was selected. Questioned by Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Tariq Mehmood Jehangiri as to how the company’s authenticity was determined, he replied the company had a good reputation and assured to complete the examination expeditiously. He informed the commission that Mansoor Ijaz submitted his Blackberry set on May 10 after notices were served both on him and Hussain Haqqani.
During the proceedings, Barrister Zafarullah Khan, the first petitioner in the case, drew the commission’s attention towards a New York Times article penned by Haqqani criticising the commission. Justice Isa requested a copy of the article be provided to the commission and asked the commission to share its findings with the apex court once all evidence was recorded.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 19th, 2012.
COMMENTS (6)
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I agree with Khalid Mehmood.
No money is wasted if some probe is done to un-cover a plot against the country. Wastage is the spending on taking big entourage just for the hack of it with PM on his one day visit extended to one week. Working to seek justice does not bring bad name but behaviour of such people bring the bad name when protected un-lawfully by the Govt functionaries.
In the given circumstances, where the Government is non-cooperative, the Judiciary can hardly do better. But something is better than nothing. At least, we now know that there is a need to investigate corruption charges against this turncoat involved in activities that are suspect. This at a minimum helps educate the not so well informed public.
So finally! and how much this whole façade costed us? I'm certain money thus wasted (to massage some extremely fragile egos here) could have been spent furnishing a few government run primary schools in neglected and under-privileged localities or perhaps supplying some medicines in some hospitals where poor must get treatment without any basic medicines. But, who cares!
The judiciary is wasting tax payer money on assumptions and political innuendo. How low it is going to get, it is destroying our reputation as a functional and viable state by knowingly siding with sentiments, predisposing the nation for an eventual implosion.
Paid by the US, Haqqani, no wonders, pleads for American, not Pakistan's interests!
Another commission bites dust...now waiting for the Abbottabad Commission.... ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++