Memogate: Mansoor Ijaz’s counsel seeks delay of Haqqani’s hearing
Says he will be in the US for a medical check-up and his presence is vital for the case.
ISLAMABAD:
The counsel for Mansoor Ijaz has requested the Supreme Court that former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani’s case be heard after April 20, although the hearing has already been fixed for April 19.
Akram Sheikh stated in his application that he had been granted general adjournment for all his cases from April 19-20 in order for him to have a medical check-up abroad, and that he had already left for the US for this purpose. He added that his presence was necessary for the hearing and disposal of Haqqani’s case.
The application, therefore, requested the court to take up the case after April 20.
It added that Haqqani had “unleashed a campaign of contempt against the commission as well as interference with the possible outcome of an instant petition”. As the counsel for Ijaz, the key player in the memo scandal, Sheikh said his appearance in the case was essential in order to bring relevant material on record, and to make a submission on the behalf of Ijaz for a just and proper decision regarding the recording of Haqqani’s testimony.
The application lambasted Haqqani’s “flouting of court orders”, saying that while the court had only permitted him to travel abroad on the condition that he would return within four days of a notification from the SC or the inquiry commission, he had not complied with this condition in spite of orders passed on March 1 and March 2. The court had provided this permission in an order dated January 30.
It added that he was, therefore, not entitled to any indulgence from the court.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 15th, 2012.
The counsel for Mansoor Ijaz has requested the Supreme Court that former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani’s case be heard after April 20, although the hearing has already been fixed for April 19.
Akram Sheikh stated in his application that he had been granted general adjournment for all his cases from April 19-20 in order for him to have a medical check-up abroad, and that he had already left for the US for this purpose. He added that his presence was necessary for the hearing and disposal of Haqqani’s case.
The application, therefore, requested the court to take up the case after April 20.
It added that Haqqani had “unleashed a campaign of contempt against the commission as well as interference with the possible outcome of an instant petition”. As the counsel for Ijaz, the key player in the memo scandal, Sheikh said his appearance in the case was essential in order to bring relevant material on record, and to make a submission on the behalf of Ijaz for a just and proper decision regarding the recording of Haqqani’s testimony.
The application lambasted Haqqani’s “flouting of court orders”, saying that while the court had only permitted him to travel abroad on the condition that he would return within four days of a notification from the SC or the inquiry commission, he had not complied with this condition in spite of orders passed on March 1 and March 2. The court had provided this permission in an order dated January 30.
It added that he was, therefore, not entitled to any indulgence from the court.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 15th, 2012.