Hussain Haqqani booked for 'causing harm' to national security

An FIR registered in Karachi states that the former envoy to US made anti-state remarks during TV talk-shows

KARACHI: The police registered an FIR against former ambassador to the United States Hussain Haqqani for allegedly causing harm to national security.

Haqqani was implicated in the memogate scandal when he allegedly had a memo delivered to Admiral Mike Mullen through Mansoor Ijaz. The memo had offered greater government cooperation in return for US backing against the powerful military in the immediate aftermath of the May 2 raid which led to the capture and killing of Osama bin Laden.

On Wednesday, the FIR was registered in Karachi’s Preedy police station on the request of advocate Maulvi Iqbal Haider. It stated that the former envoy made anti-state remarks during recent interviews with television talk shows in the US.  The applicant said that Haqqani’s statements undermined national security and challenged the country’s sovereignty.

“Haqqani deliberately issued venomous remarks on Pakistan, its forces and the Kashmir cause,” read the FIR.

The complainant advocate told The Express Tribune that he had approached the police on March 7, however the police delayed registering the case.



“I was in the high court when I heard Haqqani’s remarks against the solidarity and integrity of Pakistan. Being a Pakistani, I decided to register a case against him,” advocate Haider said. “I provided the police with evidence [interview copies] as the police initially refused to register a case, demanding evidence against him [Haqqani].”

He further said that he had also approached higher police authorities for filing a case against Haqqani and finally, the police registered a case.

“I warned them of involving all as facilitators if they continued to use delaying tactics,” said Haider while stating that it was his responsibility to register the case and it is now the police’s duty to investigate and punish the accused according to law.

On the other hand, police officials contradicted Haider’s allegations saying that the case was registered against legal consultation. “No delay tactics were being used while the case was being thoroughly checked before registration of a case,” said SHO Liaquat Hayat. “Now the case has been transferred to the investigation wing for further investigations.”

In February, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was considering registering a case against Haqqani.

Additional Attorney General Waqar Rana had submitted before a Supreme Court’s three-judge bench that the agency was considering filing an FIR against Haqqani on the basis of different offences. In addition, the FIA had written to the Interpol requesting the issuance of red warrants but the agency had raised certain queries.