LAHORE: From defending its National Reconciliation Ordinance order to responding to criticism of its verdict on a by-elections freeze, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz appears to have become the Supreme Court’s most staunch supporter.
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, speaking to reporters outside the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday, criticised the government for ‘scaring’ Memogate protagonist Mansoor Ijaz into not coming to Pakistan in order to thwart the case.
“After the sort of threatening statement the government made, only a fool will come to Pakistan to record his statements,” Sanaullah said. “The government has been making such comments because it knows that it will be implicated in the case if Ijaz comes to Pakistan with proof.”
Sanaullah also demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Hamid Ali Mirza, who has called the SC’s by-poll freeze ‘against the Constitution’.
The law minister said that Mirza should step down as he was ‘over-age’ for the post and because he had failed to fulfil his responsibility and commitment before the SC that voters lists will be complete by December 2011.
“It is my humble suggestion to Mirza that he should resign as his age is taking the better of him,” Sanaullah said.
He said that the Election Commission of Pakistan is a department of the federal government and Mirza, as the departmental head, should not have made such an assertion against the SC. “The entire nation wants to know the cause of the delay in completion of voters lists. Mirza, instead of issuing that statement, should have held a press conference informing the people.”
Commenting on Asghar Khan’s petition before the SC, seeking punishment for political groups that have been funded by the Inter-Services Intelligence, Sanaullah said that the PML-N has a clear record and is not afraid of any verdict the court passes in the case.
“If he brings one hundred such applications in court, only one might eliminate the PML-N,” he said.
The PML-N, he said, only wants to know who was responsible for Memogate and about the talks that were held between the intelligence and army chiefs, the prime minister and the president when they demanded the resignation of former Pakistan envoy to the US Husain Haqqani’s.
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Interior Minister Rehman Malik told India’s NDTV last week that Pakistani officials would like to speak with Kasab directly to verify his confession.“It can be verified either by bringing Kasab to Pakistan or the judicial commission goes and personally interviews witnesses, including Kasab,” he said. “That’s what we have requested.”
How about sending a commission to Mansoor Ijaz if he fears coming ?????
@mentelisco:
How is it sensitive enough? No commission thinks target killings of hundreds of Baluchis is not sensitive enough to go to a neutral pace for investigation. Why is one foreigner so much important than hundreds of Pakistani lives put together?
the case is sensitive enough to have the commissions member goto a neutral place 'dubai' and interview him.
he has always made anti Pakistan statement he was talked negatively about Pakistan in the media. If u read his previous articles which r published in the newspapers he always creates hysteria as if Pakistan is a rogue state
@qw: Do tell us about his track record.
This memogate case is so important to PPP and Pakistan's future.
If Ijaz comes to Pakistan and testifies, the PPP govt will fall - simple!
Therefore the govt is trying everything - threats/blackmail to stop him
to be frank i dont think mansoor ijaz is a credible person. i have a feeling he is lying. His track record is very poor. This memo issue has been fully blown up. I feel NRO & Asghar khan cases are more important.
@Truth Exposed:
180 million Pakistani fools are supposed to face the same judiciary which Mansoor Ijaz a foreign is immune from. What is insult to ones nation and the judiciary.
While PPP government is supposed to face hostile judges but when the same is demanded of Mansoor Ijaz then its a threat. Why is Mansoor Ijaz immune from the law? Is he a viceroy and are we his subjects?
Atleast he didnt bash IMRAN KHAN or PTI in this !!
Finally a statement making sense from Rana Sanaullah!
oh of course why would he be afraid,,, its a "free" judiciary right?
Look who is talking about fools.
well said Rana....... Only a fool will come to Pakistan after all this stuff