Pakistan

Video testimony: SC throws ball back to Memo panel’s court

Says commission to decide procedure for recording Haqqani’s statement

Our Correspondent April 25, 2012

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday referred former Pakistan ambassador to US Husain Haqqani’s petition seeking injunction for video testimony to the judicial commission probing what has come to be known as the Memogate scandal.

Haqqani had filed an application to the apex court through his counsel Asma Jahangir to have his statement recorded through video link, just as Mansoor Ijaz’s was recorded in London. A 10-member bench of the SC, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, transferred the responsibility to the judicial commission to decide how it wants to record Haqqani’s statements. Asma maintained that Haqqani could not return to the country to appear before the commission for security reasons.

She also presented records of threatening messages, emails and tweets that are hinting at the murder of the former ambassador upon his return.

“He (Haqqani) possessed passport of Pakistan and should not hesitate to return,” the chief justice said. Asma claimed that her client was falsely squeezed into the case and complained of Qazi Faez Isa’s ‘biased’ approach.

The SC had allowed Haqqani to travel abroad on a condition that he will return to the country within four days of being summoned by the judicial commission.

The court added that the commission, without prejudice, may adopt a procedure for recording of statement in the interest of justice as desired by it.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 25^th, 2012.

COMMENTS (4)

Shahnawaz | 12 years ago | Reply The role of courts in Pakistan always remained political and stills it today; courts are far more politicized than past. Leaning towards a specific bonapartist party, courts have proved their biasness towards Pakistan Peoples Party. One should not forget the time of 1992 when some goons of a so called national party stormed court in the broad day light. I don’t know, where is our national dignity, where is the justice? When people like Mansoor Ijaz are presented as national savior, they are promoted as loyal to Pakistan, where does the dignity lie? Why we forget, that Mansoor Ijaz is the same person who hate mongered against important institution of the same country. Memo Commission is playing in hands of anti-Pakistan elements. Can any one tell what kind of justice is? Which permits one of the parties all the perks and privileges while denies the rights of other. It is not justice, it is straightaway enmity.

butt jee | 12 years ago | Reply He will never have the courage to come back in spite of the fact that he will have best of the security available to him as he is going to be accommodated in the PM house.

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Naseer | 12 years ago | Reply I suggest neither Hussain Haqqani Should appear nor request the RIM because of highly partial nature of commission.Is there any guarantee by court that Hussain Haqqani will not be attacked in Pakistan. The commission is much inclined towards a double agent and providing him all the facilities beyond its limits. I want to ask commission that why they are vesting public money when they have already decided to convict Hussain Haqqani.

Iqbal | 12 years ago | Reply

Memo commission is trying to find out something out of nothing, making this country a laughing stock. Rather than trying Mansoor Ijaz we are making mockery of our own former ambassador that is hilarious. Mansoor Ijaz constantly failed to provide any solid evidence against Hussain Haqqani. On the other hand Hussain Haqqani willingly submitted his portfolio for free, fair and impartial investigation. Mansoor Ijaz lost nothing so far but Pakistan has lost much. We have lost our best mouth in Washington. For a moment we suppose that if Mansoor Ijaz proved a liar and conspirator, what will be the compensation for Hussain Haqqani. Memo commission who is extending olive branch to Mansoor Ijaz must answer this question. All this fuss is about witch hunting of PPP government andHussain Haqqan.

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