WASHINGTON/ ISLAMABAD: Hussain Haqqani waved goodbye to Washington Saturday evening, possibly for the last time as Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States.
At the end of this potentially one-way flight, a firewalk awaits the embattled ambassador in Islamabad.
Summoned by the president and the prime minister over his alleged role in the ‘memogate’, Haqqani is scheduled to meet President Asif Ali Zardari today (Sunday).
Haqqani will explain his position on a memo, allegedly drafted by him for delivery, via a middleman, to former chairman US joint chiefs of staff Admiral Mike Mullen, asking for assistance to Pakistan’s civilian government to rein in the military establishment.
The letter was delivered on behalf of the Pakistani government by the self-declared interlocutor and a Pakistani-origin American businessman, Mansoor Ijaz.
Haqqani has persistently denied the charges and has offered to resign if it helps resolve the controversy.
But the controversy threatens to engulf not only the ambassador, but the civilian leadership itself. Ijaz has claimed that the memo was sent with the blessings of President Zardari.
Civilians to grill first
Haqqani, who boarded a Qatar Airways flight in Washington Saturday evening, is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad early Sunday morning, official sources said.
He would be taken to the Presidency right away, sources added.
“The president and the prime minister told General Kayani that they would first seek an explanation from Haqqani themselves,” a close associate of President Zardari told The Express Tribune.
The civilian leadership would then apprise the military authorities of the issue, he added.
“If [military authorities] remain unsatisfied, the civilian leadership will arrange Haqqani’s meeting with them,” the Pakistan Peoples Party leader said.
Hesitant Haqqani
Haqqani, who initially volunteered to appear before any authority in Pakistan to defend himself, was later ambivalent, and at one point even considered delaying his return to Pakistan, official sources toldThe Express Tribune.
He proceeded to return after receiving ‘assurances at the highest level,’ the source added.
The president’s spokesperson, Farhatullah Babar, when contacted to confirm Haqqani’s meeting with the president and its likely outcome, said he cannot say anything right now.
“Let him come ... He is expected to reach here later in the night,” Babar said. “I would be in a position to tell the schedule once he arrives.” An official in the Prime Minister House said the premier would be in Lahore on Sunday, for his son’s wedding, and is expected to meet Haqqani on Monday.
No treason charges yet
The government has no intentions of pursuing a treason case against Haqqani before giving him a chance to prove his innocence, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said while talking to journalists on Saturday.
“It is unjust to condemn someone without hearing them first,” Malik said.
“If Haqqani fails to satisfy the government with his explanation, the matter would be open for investigation,” he added.
Malik denied that Haqqani had drafted the infamous memo and added that President Zardari did not ask the ambassador for such communication either.
“It was a unilateral act of Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz,” Malik asserted.
Admitting that a record of conversation between Ijaz and Haqqani was found, Malik stressed that “it was yet to be determined who initiated the conversation.”
Haqqani meets Grossman
Haqqani, meanwhile, met with the US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman before departing for Islamabad.
A State Department official said the case of the memo was discussed in meeting. Grossman said he had never seen the memo until it was made public, the official added.
Earlier on Friday, State Department spokesperson Mark Toner told reporters that he was not going to engage in speculation.
“Our understanding is that [Haqqani] is still the ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, and we continue to have regular interactions with him,” Toner said.
PML-Q throws weight behind ally
Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain threw his weight behind his ally, the Pakistan Peoples Party, on Saturday and said the ‘memogate’ controversy was ‘baseless’ and an effort to destabilise the civilian government.
Speaking in Bahawalpur, Hussain said that President Zardari was not a child who needed intermediaries for correspondence with the US government.
(Additional input by Umer Nangiana in Islamabad and Kashif Zafar in Bahawalpur)
Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2011.
COMMENTS (33)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Memogate scandal is just there to harm the good name of President Zardari and his government. You need not to go any further but just to read the profile of this man Mansoor Ijaz who has initiated all this mudslinging: Mansoor Ijaz is an American citizen who was born in Florida America in 1961. Mansoor Ijaz’s full name if Mussawar Mansoor Ijaz and he is a Qadyani. Yes he belongs to the Ahmadiyya Jamat and his father is a nuclear scientist and left Paksitan. Mansoor Ijaz completed all his studies in US and then started a firm with the General James Allen who was a close aide of President Reagon and also a close friend of the then CIA chief Wesley. Mansoor Ijaz has always been touted as the CIA agent and during the Clinton era, he offered Clinton administration that he was ready to work with CIA to convince the Pakistani government of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed to rollback the Pakistani nuclear program. He also offered Pakistani government through back channels that he could get them F-16 planes for free and write off of debt, if Pakistan accepts Israel. Now this man is out there once again and claims that he delivered the memo of ambassador Haqqani to out of all of the people to Mike Mullen, the same Mullen who “coincidentally” threatened Pakistan not long ago.
Ijaz claims to be an ultra wealthy man, who will sue anyone using best lawyers in US, well he will be getting the opportunity pretty soon. This guy makes absolutely no sense, why would he write a letter on behalf of Pakistan, which is unsigned to Mullen, when Pakistan government can directly approach the US Ambassador and have the message sent. Than why would this man write an op-ed piece to blow the cover that he has? It seems like he was probably trying to get money out of Haqqani after setting him up. Pretty sure the US government will have its own investigation, especially when Ijaz admits to writing a letter on behalf of a foreign government without registering as a foreign agent. Or he probably will be investigated for meeting foreign intelligence agents which is treason under US criminal code. Good luck Mr. Ultra wealthy man. See if your wealth helps you when the real investigations start. Furthermore it seems hilarious to me that ISI chief met the same person who in his Financial Times article stated that ISI is a rogue organization and should be dismantled.
What I have never understood is this: The job of posting the Ambassador in a far away capital is so that he can develop candid, and friendly relationships, so that he can talk confidentially with the powerful people there. If Haqqani wanted to say something to US Govt, he could have talked to Mullen or Petraeus or Panetta, or even to Hillary, or for that matter to Obama. If he needs another person to pass the message, then what is he there for ? Its so fishy, it looks like a setup.
What is a " Fire Walk " anyway ? Except for a movie,I have never heard this metaphor.Does the reporter mean" Haqqani has to walk on fire to prove his innocence"?
Mansoor Ijaz is a front man of Hussain Haqani who has earned reputation in USA as an anti Pakistan and Pak Military. He was indirectly communicating on the behalf of Haqani and this command was chained back by Zardari. Now, they are trying us to focus and divert our attention by saying judge Mansoor Ejaz's credibility. This person was perfect for the job for two reasons, i) He had closeness to the US administration and ii) He is known for anti Pakistan and hatred by Pakistani nation and army. The selection of this person was for three reasons: i) Don't want to get involve directly as if it leaked out in the future ii) Mansso Ijaz is very influential who has confidence of US side iii) In case some day (like now) it comes out people can think of it as plot against Pakistan by an anti Pakistani with previous track record (which this Zardari & Co are trying to do now). Please keep in mind the revelation of Wiki Leaks, exactly same policy what we have seen already, in public our Prime Minister Gillani was condemning the drone attacks but in private he was asking Americans to continue, our Statements are just for public. Similarly, Zardari said I don't care how many civilians get killed with drone attacks.
@ Not me Trust me he will be subjected to polygraph, its part of the SOP for dealing with such issues. Ijaz was already subjected to indepth questioning and verification process.
@New Boy: Brave man, yes he is very brave, sitting amongs us biting us ;-)
Sigh. The Gallows? Use your heads. He was working on the government's(official representative of Pakistan's voice) request. That's almost the opposite of treason. It's being loyal and following orders. Especially in this case with how touchy the subject is. The only way it would be treason is if the army was officially in charge of running the country. You guys really should look up the word treason. I rarely, if ever, see it used correctly. Also, considering the consequences of it, curb your ignorance before you kill more people with it.
LOL
The man has securities bonds and every thing fromt he one he palce him at this position do not worry nothing will happen to him. Did you all forgot the case of "Najam Sethi" he is now serving as an adviser to a think tank onhow to curtail Pakistan.
HH has defended Pakistani army and ISI in the US and world after they were caught in bed with OBL. This is what he gets in return? Just like ZAB brought back 93 thousand POW back from India after their surrender. What they have done to Z. A. Bhutto in return? HH is not like General Iskander Mirza or General Mush who would run away like rats. He would come back to his country like a patriot. The people, who have been claiming his guilt (without trial) and that he would never come back, should be ashamed of themselves. What is the punishment of false allegations in Islam?
What ever come out from this memo the culprit should be punished . I my self don t care who is the real one . The fact is some has played this dirty game . As far as this guy Mansoor Ijaz his back ground is against Pakistan that much i know.
Haqqani is brain child of peoples party he should be thoroughly investigate and if found guilty the law should take him to the task. If Mansoor Ijaz found guilty the case against him should be dealt in Pakistan or in International court.but not in U S.
About Turn.... Quick March.... It is time for Change in Pakistan. All the Black sheep please step aside. Imran Khan is coming.. We are sick of the oldies.. it is time for a New Pakistan.
Be ready for a presidential pardon for HH and for Zardari himself!
Give him a Polygraph test (popularly referred to as a lie detector) . Let justice be done and all responsible (directly or indirectly) be tried
Picture now geting clear: why there has been always mistrust between USA and Pakistan during tenure of our intellectual Ambassador...
Where is the ambassador's boss, Ms. Khar, in the mix?
he sold pakistan
We Pakistanis have a habit of listening one sided story.
Mansoor Ijaz is not an angel.
We need to investigate that what ever he is saying is right or wrong. On the other hand Ambassador Haqqani is in the country. He is going to meet the national leadership and will reply to the allegations made by Mansoor Ijaz.
Having failed in direct diplomacy, US government is now playing through a third man’s diplomacy which is Mansoor Ijaz.
We must wait and listen patiently to Ambassador Haqqani as how he got trapped in Mansoor Ijaz’s net.
Seems that Ijaz was most likely trying to get money from Haqani for blackmail, so he published the so called letter that he sent, a letter can be sent by anyone to the General, it not a great deal, but what is interesting is that Ijaz wrote the FT column with the only conclusion that he was trying to get money.
@Zalim Singh: why dont you ask your Indian govt to send such a letter to some other country..then lets see how much the public likes it...after all, experience is important to understand something fully :)
what is so bad about this memo?????
Suddenly he became like Obama, news of returning to Pakistan, about to board the plane, boarded the plane and landed in Pakistan. For whatever reasons, he is the most wanted person in Pakistan now.
Investigate the whole thing in detail. Put him through POLYGRAM test to get to the truth
Where the people who says he will never return !
Its a perception, whether right or wrong, our military was against him from the day one. Hope he got assurance before stepping in Islamabad.
Mr. Haqqani should resign, this affair has put permanent blemish on the current government. Mr. Bashir or Mr. Masood Khan will be a good fit.
This is a very strange sort of ambassador. He is not answerable to Foreign Minister and not even to Prime Minister. He says he is answerable to Asif Zardari only. Mr Rahman Malik - Please hands off this case. The interrigators have to deal with an evil genius. Pakistan army, ISI and the integrity and security of pakistan as a whole are the direct parties in this case. Mr Haqqani should be handed over to the ISI to conduct a thorough and impartial inquiry. He shouldn't be allowed to leave pakistan pending the final outcome of inlquiry. His name should be included in the E.C.L.
Haqqani has proved that he is a brave man. I think he will also go to the gallows with same confidence.
Ambassador Haqqani may not have had any role in this memo-gate scandal but I am afraid his goose is cooked. He be asked to stand down as ambassador. His replacement has already been approved by the GHQ.
It was a game played by Mr. President which turns into drama, luckily pushing Pakistan to take some more step towards upcoming CHANGE. Haqqani will play the same role as Rehman Malik is playing in Mirza-drama..!!!
Get rid of the Mir Jaffar.