Ijaz shares phone data with commission

Requests that the body Haqqani to waive privacy rights for full access.


Qaiser Zulfiqar January 07, 2012

ISLAMABAD: The man who apparently holds all the evidence linking Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US to Memogate has upped the ante in the scandal investigations.

Mansoor Ijaz, who delivered the controversial memo to the then US military chief Admiral Mike Mullen through former US national security adviser Gen James Jones – apparently at the behest of Husain Haqqani – on Friday agreed to place before a court-mandated judicial commission all the conversations he had with Haqqani.

He also submitted the personal identification (PIN) details of the BlackBerry devices he used to communicate with Haqqani – as well as the details of the devices allegedly used by the former ambassador.

Ijaz has called out the ambassador to prove his innocence before the three-member commission, headed by Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa.

Waiving his privacy rights, which may be a stumbling block in obtaining key data from mobile service provider Research in Motion (RIM), Ijaz also asked the commission to get Haqqani to do the same.

Ijaz submitted this in his application through his counsel Advocate Akram Sheikh to the secretary of judicial commission Raja Jawwad Abbas Hassan. He informed the commission, though his counsel, that, after receiving Supreme Court’s order, he had already sent a notice to RIM surrendering his privacy rights in favour of the commission.

Ijaz seems keen on helping the commission bypass all potential delays given the short time span it has to complete investigations.

He drew out all the people the court needs to contact to request BlackBerry for the data of communication between him and Haqqani.

First, he appealed to the commission to send a forensic specialist to visit the two server sites of RIM one in Berkshire UK and second in Irving, Texas USA.

He also requested the commission to direct the concerned authorities in Pakistan to contact the chief legal officer of RIM and the heads of the European and USA divisions of RIM where the servers are located, within one week after January 9, to officially request for the data.

As for personally appearing before the commission, Ijaz asked it to direct the Pakistani High Commission in London to issue a visa immediately – and also asked for the commission to ensure that he be provided adequate security.

He informed the commission that forensic specialist of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will not be able to complete his task of obtaining data from RIM’s offices before January 16 – therefore, he will be available to the commission from 16 to 20 January.

He said that he is also willing to submit his handsets to the forensic specialist appointed by the commission for forensic investigation. The next sitting of the commission is on January 9.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2012.

COMMENTS (39)

HASAN MEHMOOD | 12 years ago | Reply

@Mirza: {RIM has all their hopes and future depending upon the 47th economy of the world.} Dear Mirza Sb. You need not be so sarcastic all the time. Your unnecessary cynicism detracts from your overall credibility regarding most issues which is unfortunate. I do share most of your thoughts when presented in a cool / balanced manner. Regards, Your well wisher

Hasan Mehmood | 12 years ago | Reply

@observer: "Some questions just can not be answered so simplistically" 'For example ask someone if the person has stopped beating his wife, and tell him if he is honest he should just say Yes or No"

You are absolutely right. Everyone is either fully absolving HH of any complicity or considering him fully responsible. The truth most definitely lies in between and it is only the degree of innocence or complicity that matters.

Their is no doubt that HH knew about the MEMO. MI cannot conjure it out of thin air and dare submit it to USA Military High Command. However there is nothing earth shattering or trecherous in the basic idea of MEMO. Asking USA military help against percieved Army takeover is understandable in our peculiar historical context and not unprecedented. Promising to replace Army chief (Govt. right), promising more proactive role against militants and bringing MUMBAI accused to serious trial cannot be termed as treason. The question is did MI spiced up the contents of MEMO as per his known mindset against ARMY / ISI? Of course the Blackberry records confirm interaction with HH on the issue. But do they specifically mention the controversial parts regarding American boots on ground, complete overhaul of security apparatus with officers of USA liking and compromising nuclear assets etc. If HH initiated or knew about the final contents of the submitted MEMO, then he is in serious trouble and liable to be charged with TREASON. Otherwise he should not worry. Unfortunately in the present charged atmosphere even partial ownership will be concieved as full ownership and maybe thats why he has opted for complete denial raising all sorts of suspicions.

Please note that I am not a HH supporter and would willingly support any punishment (including death penalty) if the scandolus contents of the MEMO turn out to be the brainwave of HH.

ET Editor: This is my 4th attempted post on the issue and hope it will be approved this time. There is a dire need of cool headed / detached analysis without predetermined FOR or AGAINST comments.'

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