ISLAMABAD:
Mansoor Ijaz, the US citizen at the heart of the Memogate controversy, is being denied a Pakistani visa due to security reasons, The Express Tribune has learnt.
The move came just a day after Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s statement that Ijaz would have to apply for a visa if he wants to appear before the commission investigating Memogate.
“We cannot issue a visa to him [Ijaz] until he gets clearance from the concerned security agencies,” said a senior official from the ministry of interior. “The fate of Ijaz’s visa links to his security assurance in Pakistan,” he added, also confirming that Ijaz will have to apply for a visa through the normal channels. Ijaz’s counsel Akram Sheikh said in response to Malik’s statement: “My client has been denied visa … as I learnt.” Sheikh, in a plea on Friday, also sought direction from Justice Qazi Faiz Isa, chairman of the commission investigating Memogate, regarding the visa. “The commission may direct either to the Swiss Embassy or the British High Commission in London.”
“If Ijaz is given a Pakistani visa he will unearth all the secrets,” said Sheikh. He added that, if the government does not issue a visa to Ijaz then he will request the Supreme Court to ensure the presence of his client at the commission.
If Ijaz is still unable to visit Pakistan, he will ask the commission to record his statement through a video link. Finally, he said that some key lawyers are preparing Ijaz’s case in Islamabad.
The commission may record his statement under the ‘Qanoon-e-Shahadat’ Order 1984. This order allows the use of modern technology to be used in court.
Ijaz himself wrote a letter to the Attorney General, stating that he will not appear before the commission until his demands are met by the government, according to Husain Haqqani’s Counsel Zahid Bokhari. “If the government of Pakistan does not meet my 19 conditions then it will be difficult for me to appear before the commission,” Ijaz apparently said.
“If Ijaz does not join the proceedings of the commission then allegations levelled against Haqqani will automatically meet their natural death. He [Ijaz] is making lame accusations against my client,” Bokhari told The Express Tribune.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Interior Secretary Siddique-e-Akbar have neither confirmed nor denied the latest development. However, other top government officials do not even know whether Ijaz has applied for visa or not.
Presidential Spokesperson Farhatullah Babar says: “He [Ijaz] is a US national and can come to Pakistan only after getting a visa. I’m not sure if he has even applied for a visa yet.” Foreign Office spokesperson Abdul Basit did not know about any denial of a visa to Mansoor Ijaz. “I’m unaware of when and where Mansoor applied for Pakistan’s visa,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 9th, 2012.
COMMENTS (10)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@yaz: "The question is why deny him the visa." Not so, the question is why there is admission of a case when there is no case at the first place. Asma Jehangir quitted because of pre determination of outcome to this case. Be fair and think, Judiciary and Establishment wants this case their way, why can't Government deal it their way while there is no case. Now Government can deny visa and Parliament can over throw this case and that is superior to Judiciary. Ejaz is asking conditions on top of visa and the Visa is not even applied for. All-political, isn't it?
Democrary (Bhuttos Brand) has its own flavor of Justice.
“If the government of Pakistan does not meet my 19 conditions then it will be difficult for me to appear before the commission,” . I wonder whether those 19 conditions include immunity from prosecution, no cross examination, no depositions from Haqqani lawyers etc. Disclose of those 19 conditions and any other secret deals should be made public.
@yaz: He hasn't even applied for the visa. Akram Sheikh's statement is just political gimmickry.
The Govt would try its best that Ijaz does not come to Pakistan.... This is a real challenge for the SC to exert its influence and the rule of the law.... what the ruling cronies are doing is WRONG WRONG WRONG and against the law as well as the constitution..... we don't need if this is DEMOCRACY....
The question is why deny him the visa. Is the government afraid he will say something that may go against them (Haqqani)?
Musharraf cant get ticket, Ijaz can't get visa. Travelling is so tough when the time comes to face the music.
Not everyone is as patriotic and fearless as Hussain Haqqani. HH resigned, came back to his country, facing the inquiries, investigations to prove all allegations, wrong!!