Memogate scandal: RIM confirms unavailability of old records

Says the data is only retained for 90 days.


Obaid Abbasi April 18, 2012

ISLAMABAD:


BlackBerry manufacturer Research In Motion (RIM) confirmed on Tuesday that it was unable to provide records of former envoy Husain Haqqani’s conversations with Mansoor Ijaz because the comapny’s database only retained information for 90 days.


Haqqani’s counsel, Zahid Bukhari, had earlier informed the judicial commission probing the Memogate scandal that RIM does not maintain records for its BlackBerry Messenger services for more than 90 days.

In a hearing on April 5, the commission had directed him to write a letter to RIM within 24 hours requesting provision of old communication records. In compliance with the commission’s directives, Haqqani had sent his letter of consent to the company.

However, RIM officially confirmed that they do not have the requested records and said: “We regret that the record which you have requested for the time periods set out in your consent is no longer in the possession of RIM.” The company also said that the time period mentioned was beyond the data retention period for the services offered by RIM.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Bukhari claimed that he had already informed the commission that there was no need to write a letter of consent.

“Today, RIM’s reply has proved that I was correct and Ijaz tried to mislead the commission,” he said.

Meanwhile, the commission rejected Haqqani’s adjournment application and directed the government to ascertain a list of his property details and submit them to the court by April 26.

The commission expressed their discontent over Haqqani’s absence to record his statement, despite directives given in the previous hearing to ensure his presence.

Bukhari explained that his client was not reluctant to appear before the commission but due to security threats he could not do so and in this regard, his application was pending before the Supreme Court, the hearing for which has been fixed for April 23.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18th, 2012.

COMMENTS (3)

Mehreen | 12 years ago | Reply

Mansoor Ijaz is an extortionist and extorts money from individuals, companies and states. Now is the turn of Pakistan. Being an underdeveloped country, Pakistan is ready to pay the price to Mansoor Ijaz whatever he demanded. There is no shortage of fools, provided one knows how to make fool and Mansoor Ijaz has done Doctorate in making people, companies and states fool. Would Memo Scandal Commission note down his wrong doings before announcing the judgment?

Arshad | 12 years ago | Reply

There is nothing left in the memo case, why Judiciary is trying to make controversial. The Memo issue has been a source of disrepute for us as a nation and even greater for all those actors involved in this affair. How could a simple piece of paper bearing no signature and supposedly passed on through clandestine channel be the authentic position of the government? Is such a piece of paper any value for the legal proceeding? It was anticipated that the commission comprising the honorable judges will through it in the dust bin after the preliminary hearing. But unfortunately the commission has further ridiculed the nation as well as the wisdom of the judiciary. It seems that there is an absolute lack of intellect and wisdom in our high ups and their motivation is more to settle their personal vendetta and satisfy the egos than to run the country. The nation has a right to ask why the tax payers money has been misused to follow an inconsequential matter?

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