Ijaz claims that he received instructions from Haqqani via BlackBerry Messenger messages, SMS, and phone calls, to pen down and deliver a secret memo to the then Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen in early May.
Finally presenting his testimony, months after the Pakistani Supreme Court took up the case after he lifted the lid on the alleged memo in an op-ed in the Financial Times, Ijaz said that the BlackBerry smart phone manufacturer RIM, had told him that phone data is not maintained longer than three months on its servers.
RIM maintains servers for its BlackBerry Enterprise Services, which handle the encrypted messages exchanged between BlackBerry devices.
He, however, told the commission that he can submit the correspondence that took place between him and the company, regarding retrieving the data. Ijaz has already offered data which is stored on his BlackBerry handset as evidence.
Attorney-general of Pakistan also notified the commission that the Blackberry manufacturer has once again refused to provide data to Pakistan.
Code word 'Bad-boy' used for DG ISI, Army COAS
He also revealed the code words used for the various characters in the scandal.
He said that the code "Bad-boy" for the Director General Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) Lt. General Shuja Pasha and the Chief of Armed Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani.
They also allegedly used the code "Boss" to denote President Asif Ali Zardari.
"Ispahani" was used to denote the American establishment, and "Golden Handle" for Admiral Mike Mullen.
Finally the testimony is recorded
Earlier, Mansoor Ijaz recorded his statement for the Memogate case at the Pakistan High Commission in London on Wednesday.
During the video link, Zahid Bukhari, counsel of former ambassador to US Husain Haqqani raised objections over the procedure of recording Ijaz’s testimony saying “this is not how testimonies are recorded”. He also said each word of Ijaz’s testimony should be written down.
Rebuffing Bukhari’s statement, the commission said that he should not interfere during the proceedings.
Bukhari alleged that while getting his statements recorded, Ijaz started “toying with his BlackBerry phone”. Justice Isa quipped, “You start fighting over everything.”
The commission told Ijaz to keep his phones on the table. Ijaz objected over Bukhari’s behaviour and said that his phones were already lying on the table.
Two big screens were installed in the Islamabad High Court to record Ijaz’s statements from the Pakistan High Commission in London via video link.
A three-member commission headed by Justice Qazi Faiz Isa recorded Ijaz’s testimony in Islamabad via video link.
Ijaz’s lawyer, Akram Sheikh and former ambassador to United States Hussain Haqqani’s lawyer, Zahid Bukhari, reached the Islamabad High Court.
Not being in front of the witness weakens my arguments, says Haqqani's lawyer
While criticising the late arrival of his visa, Bukhari said that in today’s hearing of the Memogate case, he will ask the judicial commission to facilitate him as per his “legal right”.
Speaking to the media outside the Islamabad High Court, Bukhari said that the witness and the counsel should be face to face during a court’s proceedings because there are some “professional techniques” that needed to be followed.
“Your body language, your expressions and the way you put forth your arguments different when you are not in front of the witness,” said Haqqai’s lawyer.
Bukhari said that the commission has been facilitating Ijaz throughout the proceedings of the case. “I also request the court to provide me with appropriate facilities.”
He said that his visa came at a time when he could not be present in the Pakistan High Commission during Ijaz’s testimony and had he tried, he would have also missed out the commission’s proceedings in Islamabad.
The court has adjourned the hearing until February 22.
A copy of the statement given by Mansoor Ijaz at the Pakistan High Commission can be read here.
COMMENTS (24)
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If Pakistan was at all serious about getting data from RIM - they should've simply suspended Blackberry retail/usage/service in Pakistan till RIM would've complied with the memogate request by the Courts. But that's only if the Pakistan Gov. was at all serious about resolving this matter...
When did Bukhari applied for UK Vise, most probably late to not get the via in time. Memo commission should also get his application for Visa from UK embassy and make it part of proceedings.
So how much the commission paid him as he is an extortionist and will do anything for a buck.
I read the following in news report earler but would like to bring it to the attention. The most important part of the story, which I believe eventually led to the memo is buried in this following two BBM submitted along with the testimony. " Mansoor IJAZ: By the way, I know a lot more than you give me credit for about the circumstances that led to May 1 and your role in all that. Just FYI
Husain Haqqani: Honorable ppl stick with one another. Take care."
Ijaz is obviously talking about the Abbottobad raid. Surprised no PAK journalist picked up this statement for a long time ever since the BBM messages were made public.
What role Mr. Haqqani played and how did the PAK civilian govt assist in US raid.
I personally think Ijaz was played by the" folks" in PAK civilian set up after they came to know that the "establishment" was pretty mad having came to know of their assistance in Abottobad raid.
The end result was that the civilian govt was saved through the memo but it would have survived even without the memo. Paranoid and over reaction from civilian side led to the memo and Ijaz unwittingly played into their hands.
The NRO gate is a pay back to the civilian government from the establishment side.
It is one sided evidence.
After Mansoor Ejaz, Hussain Haqqani will speak.
And then..................................the judgement will be announced by the Memo Commission.
Whatever the judgement will be announced, in any case, it is not going to hurt Pakistan.
@Mirza: Its the glamor thing. You won't understand.
It is a shame that nobody is talking about the time and resources of SC and three sitting CJ of HC. With all the spendings on one foreign dobule agent's statement, how many flood victims would have been helped? How many school kids helped, and how many dedicines and equipment in the hospitals installed? This is the height of corruption to waste that much national wealth for two rich people living in the US. People would not know real corruption even if hists them on the rear.
Seems already set play b/w all stakeholders....playing around on reality grounds
missing the days when headlines used to be free from Mansoor Ijaz..SIGH!!!
Minister of magic Cornelius Fudge wrongly suspected Harry potter of being an attention seeking prat...had he accused this gentleman he wouldnt have lost his job :p ;p
How come Hussain Haqani is not in London?.
Yes every word of the witness is written down, no counsel of either side can interfere,there is no permission to correct the word. defense counsel raised objection on it but overruled.
facilities were provided to the witness but no such facility provided to the counsel of the accused party. delay in provision of visa is different matter,at a time the defense counsel was said,submit application in this connection,that is not warranted in the law. In this way justice has become a sign of interrogation.
What kind of discussion had been going on,between Ijaz and Haqqani, It is very important and startling aspect of the case. but,unfortunately the Blackberry has finally refused to provide the relevent record to the Commission.
Now the question before is that who would corroborate the statement of the star witness.
On the other hand reliable media report says,according to the record available message were found sent by Monsoor ijaz not by Haqqani,and on the basis of the messages Ijaz prepared the draft and submitted to the messenger and requested to deliver the authority concerned.
The fact is that star witness has many times changed its stance and statement.In fact he is not reliable.Previous record attributed to him has proved him as a blackmailer.He is liar and would proved liar,who tried to play with peace of the country and created friction in between Pakistan's institutions He is responsible for the present unrest.
Ijaz nai kiya kah hai woh tu batain janab...let the counsel cry they deserve to cry..
Defense counsel of Huqqani have some reservations and objection on recording the statement of Star Witness that is subject to remove. recording the statement through video conference is a new option adopted by the authority concerned.may be has legal support.
Defense counsel,in every criminal case has right to cross examination. any lawyer,has been appointed on behalf of accused,has legal and constitutional right to put question to complainant and witnesses at the time of testimony.
As the news relating to the memogate reveal that Zahid Bukhari defense counsel of Hussain Haqani not granted permission to cross examine the testimony of star witness in the case.
Legal requirement must be fulfilled,it is indispensable for justice.
@Pakistan politics: Haha. Yes. Great reality show.
@Pakistan politics: Should'nt the truth come out? The Nation must know if treason was committed or not!
He has given the statements as promised! HAPPY now! He is obviously saying the truth because how would he no hussein haqqani's blackberry pin! So now if haqqani's has remembered his pin or would like to prove him self innocent then he must allow RIM to give his details on the dates mansoor izaj has mentioned. It is clear now that the defendants wanted to delay the proceedings which is why haqqani's lawyer played a well planned visa drama from the presidency!
i enjoy free entrainment provided by Gov. of Pakistan
why wasting the public money and time for this issue, everybody knows that a deal between the stake holders has been sorted out for closing the case, We are sick of this memo case stop it please. Stop strengthening the Generals more and focus on the real issues of public