The commission, in a session on Thursday, also directed Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir to provide details if a data-sharing agreement exists between Pakistan and Canada.
This was the fifth proceeding of the commission, which is headed by Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman and Sindh High Court Chief Justice Musheer Alam.
Earlier, the commission adjourned hearing till 9am on February 10, Express News reported.
Bashir was summoned to appear before the commission on a half-hour deadline and managed to arrive at the IHC before the deadline ended.
Justice Qazi Faez Issa had said that if he does not appear before the commission within the given deadline, he will be held in contempt of court.
Attorney-General Maulvi Anwarul Haq also arrived to appear before the commission.
The court expressed dissatisfaction over the deputy attorney-general's statement that RIM had given its reply on January 28, and said that if RIM had written a letter on January 28, then why was it not submitted to the court.
Justice Isa questioned if the respondents “did not understand English” and said that the commission had clearly stated that all the documents relevant with the case be submitted to the court, and by not doing so, the government has violated the court’s orders.
The commission observed that if the government continued doing so then the Defense Secretary Nargis Sethi will be asked to attend every hearing of the commission.
Bashir came to the court with his lawyers who will represent him in front of the commission.
Before entering the IHC, the foreign secretary was seen consulting the attorney general on the court’s premises, Express News reported.
The commission resumed the hearing today, headed by Justice Isa, who said that the foreign ministry is creating hurdles in the way of the investigation.
Justice Isa said that if it was told earlier that Ijaz will not be coming to Pakistan, then it would have not only saved time but also resolved the case.
The commission resumed the hearing today, headed by Justice Qazi Faez Isa, who said that the foreign ministry is creating hurdles in the way of the investigation.
Ijaz's counsel Akram Sheikh said that he was appearing before the court “voluntarily” and that the court, according to Pakistani laws, does not hold the authority to summon Ijaz.
He said that if Ijaz comes to Pakistan, the Parliamentary Committee on National Security would also summon him, in reply to which Justice Isa said, “Now you are taking a U-turn.”
Justice Isa added that earlier, security was being made an issue and now the parliamentary committee.
Sheikh prayed to the court that the location for recording Ijaz’s statement be changed to Zurich or London from Dubai. Justice Isa questioned that what is the guarantee that if the court’s representatives go abroad, Ijaz will have his statement recorded.
Ijaz has been summoned by the parliamentary and judicial commissions investigating the case, and has twice refused to come to Pakistan despite assurances of proper security.
In the request, Sheikh had said that Ijaz has a security threat if he comes to Pakistan and there is also the danger that he might be arrested on false charges or evidence might be taken away from him.
COMMENTS (22)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1731570357-0/elon-musk-(1)1731570357-0-405x300.webp "article")
-(1)1717678110-0/Kendrick-(1)-(1)1717678110-0-165x106.webp "article")
1732428532-0/BeFunk_§_]__-(43)1732428532-0.jpg "train operations halted between lahore rawalpindi peshawar amid pti protest")
So Chowdhary still has some rabbit to pull out of this old stale and torn hat? Pakistan and its institutions have stopped amusing us!
Mr. Akram Shaikh must be congratulated for stating that his client Mr. Mansoor Ijaz is an American citizen and cannot be summoned by the court and that Mr. Shaikh was appearing voluntarily. He wants that the Commission should go abroad to record Mr. Mansoor's testimony. That amounts to saying that the Commission, comprising of the Chief Justices of 3 High Courts cannot summon Mr. Mansoor Ijaz, but Mr. Mansoor Ijaz, being an American citizen, can summon the Commission to a city of his choice! Great logic! The Commission should have held Mr. Shaikh in contempt and closed the farce inquiry. Surprised that it will continue to hear the matter and waste valuable judicial time and public money on this circus.
Contempt Contempt Contempt. Run Run Run
It is interesting to note the observations of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ). The ICJ is concerned on the infringement of the rights of Mr.Haqqani,who is already fearful of his life,and taken refuge in the residence of the prime minister Mr.Gilani. Mr.Haqqani has already returned to Pakistan from Washington. The ICJ is of the view that the Pakistan Supreme Court may have overstepped its constitutional authority on the movement of Mr.Haqqani,and this could undermine the ongoing the ongoing Parliamentary enquiry.
@Ammar: I think Supreme Court is wasting the time and money of nation
Charge entire nation for contempt and convict them once rather than in installments!
Pretty clear that the almighty SC doesn't have much respect for the executive branch of your govt --- maybe it's time for the executive branch to return the favor.
@Beatle: My fears posted an hour earlier have proved to be correct. How far one can go in hatred? Perhaps no limits.
Why is it necessary to bring him back to Pakistan or recrod his statement in personal? Dont we all know how effective is skype? Why not take the advantage of video conferencing and end this drama.. .. both court and mansoor ijaz are wasting time of the nation... and well nation already wastes a lot of time here and there on stupid and meaningless issues so why not this one... God bless pakistan. One thing is now a established fact.... All the judges of SC are busy hearing these cases which have no results or positive outcome ,,,, and no one is bothered about the plight of lower courts where common citizens are suffering badly due to red tapism, bribery practices, evil and wicked lawyers, and extrememly corrupt and ineffective police systems. this is where actual responsibility lies with the higher courts and this is where they are the most oblivious...
Ejaz is a lier and his frequent hip hops are just evasive tactics. He made fool of Pakistanis and infact insulted the whole nation by playing a fooling game.
The honourable Advocate should not represent him any more.
@Mirza: I am positively convinced that Akram Sheikh either is or has inadvertantly become a part of the conspiracy. Further that he should equally be punished alongside Mansoos Ijaz for making fool of court, government and people of Pakistan. I am afraid that PC Courts in their hatred for current regime may set another precedent by allowing to record this double agent's evidence overseas.
why don't sir imran khan go to court and street, as he revealed on 30 oct govrt is involved in conspiracy against army and country
Mansoor Ijaz has taken everybody for a ride.Waste of tax payers money in pursuing this case.
The court proceedings, from the arguments of the lawyers to the observations of the judges - not to mention the judgments, make an intriguing read for the judicial system around the world. In years to come, we shall have books written on farcical proceedings and judgments.
If you were Mansoor Ijaz would you come to Pakistan where the interior minister has made subtle threats against you, and the prime minister himself seems to endorse those statements? Remember what happened to Benazir.
In this modern day and age why not simply depose the witness by teleconference from a site of his own choosing?
Ch Shujaat said ::"The end result of Memo will be big Zero even if Mansoor Ijaz records his statement" and he is proven right almost!
Intead
Commission should lament for series of threats and intimidation methods used by govt. Commission should lament for mysterious shying away of army from the follow-up. Commission should regret the PML-N's lukewarm response after filing the petition & supposed political bargaining with PPP.And the court made itself a laughing stock of the world in the process!
Some are criticizing Dr. Ahsan for representing the elected PM. However, the same folks are quiet on the overzealous representation of American double agent Mansoor Ijaz by his Pakistani lawyer. While MI after defaming and making a mockery of Pakistan, SC, army, ISI and the govt is now not interested anymore, his lawyer is keeping the "hope" alive! What purpose would it serve to continue to waste time of three HC chief justices and the whole of PCO SC? As if there are no other problems in the country.
Dead horses don't run; stop kicking it. He got the intended publicity and will not show up here or there.