WASHINGTON: Sixteen US scholars from think tanks in Washington have written to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to express concerns over the safety of Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US, asking the Obama administration to “make appropriate public statements to ensure that Husain Haqqani is not physically harmed and that due process of law is followed.”
The letter, dated January 7 and co-signed by the academics and experts from various think tanks, states, “It has come to our attention that ambassador Haqqani is under intense pressure in Pakistan, including possibly threats to his life, over the so-called ‘Memogate’ affair.”
The letter also cites concerns raised by Haqqani’s former counsel Asma Jehangir over the Supreme Court’s judicial commission formed to investigate Memogate, including a claim made by Jehangir that the former ambassador “could be picked up by Pakistan’s intelligence services and intimidated, and even possibly tortured, into providing a statement that suits their interests.”
The scholars say that they find it troubling that Haqqani was asked to surrender his passport, and cited examples of the assassinations for governor Salmaan Taseer, Shahbaz Bhatti and Saleem Shahzad, that they say have created a culture of intimidation and fear that is stifling efforts to promote a more tolerant and democratic society.”
The letter adds, “Significant segments of the Pakistani media have already judged Haqqani to be guilty of treason, which could inspire religious extremists to take the law into their own hands as they did with Taseer and Bhatti.”
Last week, three U.S senators including Senator McCain had also expressed reservations about the treatment of the former Ambassador.
The scholars added, “In keeping with its traditional support for human rights and its deep interest in a firmly democratic Pakistan, the U.S. government should do all it can to ensure Haqqani receives due process without any threat of physical harm. We commend the State Department for its statement on Friday calling for fair and transparent treatment of Ambassador Haqqani in accordance with Pakistani law and international legal standards. We would urge the U.S. government to continue to weigh in with key Pakistani leaders and to make appropriate public statements to ensure that Husain Haqqani is not physically harmed and that due process of law is followed.”
The authors of the letter include writer and academic Dr. Stephen Cohen at the Brookings Institution, former CIA officer and expert Bruce Riedel and former Ambassadors Terseita C Schaffer and Howard B. Schaffer amongst others.
State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland confirmed to reporters at the daily press briefing that they had received the letter.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 10th, 2012.
COMMENTS (31)
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@Truth: What about 40,000 innocent Pakistanis who have lost their lives in this so-called war on terror because of these puppets
Its time, that people start acknowledging the truth here, that those 40,000 or so lives were lost due to mayhem created by your Guests and Assets, not by War on Terror !!!!! Majority of these people died in your own Bazaars and Cities and not in the border regions with Afghanistan !!! The Puppets you refer to were voted in office by your own selves not by outsiders either.
Is HH their "chachay ka putter"? What about 40,000 innocent Pakistanis who have lost their lives in this so-called war on terror because of these puppets.
@Mirza: Mirza you just threw away the ball in others court.
@Hafeez: "Whatever Mansoor Ijaz is, if he has credible evidence against HH for treason – it is the evidence we are concerned about not the messenger." In that case, what about the other charges Ijaz made against the establishment? Why are they not in court answering them? It is the same Mansoor Ijaz who made both charges. Why is cognizance taken of one and the other conveniently ignored?
I seriously double whether Haqqani will ever be allowed to return to the US. It was very foolhardy of him to go to Pakistan. Now he will have to just pray 5 times a day.
Why wouldn't US? He is one of them, infact their spy.
WHAT..... he is not safe even in the Prime Minister House??? There goes Good Governance.. now that the Americans have also raised there concern! What say thou Mr. Prime Minister?
Wow! Think tanks think, but not always for the better...... “Significant segments of the Pakistani media have already judged Haqqani to be guilty of treason, which could inspire religious extremists to take the law into their own hands as they did with Taseer and Bhatti.” How do RELIGIOUS extremists come into this?
@Mirza: I felt agree to the point that Ijaz Mansoor was Pak hater, but why and how HH find same chemistry with him and ultimately fell in trap with him on his agenda, exchanged msgs and arranged the meeting between President and Ijaz Mansoor, all these sign leads to something fishy..Let it be decided by the competent authority, then we would be in better positon to say who was right and who was wrong..
Thanks and Regards,
Taseer was killed by a fanatic, sure. But where's the evidence for Bhatti being killed by extremists? The so-called scholars are trying to validate unproven allegations. Hardly academic!
The Pakistan military is why Pakistan sucks. the generals should be put on trial not HH.
No one is questioning under which law the deep stae took his passport. Its a grave violation of fundamental rights but who cares for rights in this land of pure where only one law is supreme & its military law.
FIA fires three forensic experts without reason, appointed a junior person to save Haqqani and weaken Memogate.
@Anon: I agree. Just google these 16 to see what views they hold for Pakistan.
Its time that people accepted the basic fact, that HH simply did not or could not have acted on his own accord in regards to this memo, witout instructions from his peers . Period ! The rest is simply a charade, being played out by politicians in Islamabad, in order to save their skins as the Generals are pretty upset at the audacity of the plot !!! Face it people !
the only thing this memo has done is that it has taken attention away from imran khan is this the real purpose of this memo? I wonder
@Faisal: You said "If Mansoor Ijaz was pak hater". There are no ifs and buts. He is on record to demand that ISI be labelled as terrorist organization by the US. His views on the media are no secret to anybody. I know it is hard to believe but Pakistanis who are living in foreign countries have to put up with many local people who have strange views of Pakistan, army, ISI and terrorism. Most of the Pakistanis argue with such elements especially if it is their job to plead Pakistan's case after we were found in bed with OBL. I have seen with my own eyes debating on all media including TV, radio, phone, in person and by emails with friends and enemies alike. Not all communication is based on simple love or hate or black and white. Thanks for your comment and regards, Mirza
Given the lawless of PAK it is understandable of the concern. It would be nice if he was both protected and given a fair trial under PAK law
One would like to the list of Scholars.
@Anon Oh he is too quiet a Pak hate, but that doesn't refute the mounting evidence against him. Ijaz is ready to cooperate and provide all evidences to prove his case, if HH is innocent he should do the same, submit his blackberry and come clean. If anything Ijaz was a close friend of HH for the past 10-12 years, which only goes to show the kind of company HH kept in Washington, and makes the case against him even stronger. If you want to promote liberal and democratic cause in Pak do so on your principles through your work ethics and dedication to the public. relaying on anti pakistani lobbyists,pressure agenda groups, asking for outside interference in the name of democracy not only weakens your cause, it only confirms the stereotypes and conspiracies about you. No wonder liberals are such a minority in this country. In democratic india, lobbyist Niira Raadia was forced out of her job and investigated for trying to influence selection of government ministers, are you seriously telling me such dangerous allegations against HH regarding national security, should go without any investigation? HH has it easy right now, had it been any common citizen on the street, he would have had it alot worse from the agencies.
@Mirza: Whatever Mansoor Ijaz is, if he has credible evidence against HH for treason - it is the evidence we are concerned about not the messenger.
Others: HH's wife's elder sister may be one of the "scholars".
@Mirza: If Mansoor Ijaz was pak hater then why HH was exchanging love msgs with him and why he trusted him at first point?
Under what law Haqani is enjoying free room and board with prime minister at tax payers expense? I'm planning trip to Islamabad, could I get a similar deal.
Mom and Dad come to the rescue :)
If anything this is an ample proof who was he working for...
@Pro Bono, true pak True HH's wifey has been harping on an on in the US media. But she doesnt need to try to hard, some of the signatories like CC Fair and Bruce Riedel are professional Pak haters who would go to any length to discredit, malign and rally against pakistan.
The fact that these scholars, etc., are being lobbied by HH's wife -- now in Washington DC -- seems to point toward HH guilt. He is trying to pressure the SC to let him go. This amounts to foreign interference in Pakistan's justice system, and contempt of court too.