Memogate: Haqqani, Ijaz counsels conclude arguments
Former Pakistan ambassador to US, Husain Haqqani restated his case for submitting his statement via video conference, before asking the commission to provide him unedited copies of all video recordings of the proceedings along with transcripts.
Haqqani’s counsel, Zahid Bukhari maintained that his clients was interested in recording his statement via video link and requested that the commission provide him with that opportunity.
However, Justice Qazi Faiz Essa, heading the commission, reminded him that Haqqani’s application in that regard had already been rejected.
Responding to the request of providing unedited copies of transcripts and video recordings, Justice Essa told Haqqani’s attorney that the commission is not bound to provide them with each and every thing. On this Bukhari said that proceeding of the commission is a piece of evidence and many things took place during four month’s of proceedings, and that it was his legal right to be provided with complete copy of video recordings and transcripts.
Earlier on the previous date of the hearing, the commission had directed all lawyers to conclude their respective arguments.
During the course of the hearing on Thursday, Akram Sheikh, the counsel for Mansoor Ijaz, concluded his arguments.
In his argument, Sheikh maintained that Haqqani had given contemptuous interviews to three different local and international television channels on which he criticised the judicial commission and the Supreme Court.
While submitting copies of the interviews before the commission, Sheikh said that on the one hand Haqqani was reluctant to record his statement before the commission, while on the other he criticised the commission’s proceeding by giving interviews in the media.
He said that his client, Mansoor Ijaz, had recorded his statement and provided the necessary details, but Haqqani neither provided the court with his Blackberry mobile hand set, nor recorded his statement.
Haqqani’s counsel, however, opposed Sheikhs arguments. Bukhari said that Akram Sheikh was trying to divert the commission’s attention and requested the commission to focus on concluding arguments.
The lawyers of other petitioners’ including Barrister Zafarullah Khan and Advocate Salahuddin Mengal were not present during the hearing. They are due to start their concluding arguments on Friday.
After Sheikh had concluded his arguments, the commission adjourned the hearing till Friday. Commission is likely to submit its findings before May 12, when SC six weeks extension is due to expire.
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Why should the commission treat our citizen equal to the enemy of Pakistan now? Mansoor Ijaz is the only witness for the courts who have appointed Mansoor Ijaz and their chief prosecutor as well. Sorry the PCO judges could not find a bigger and more open enemy of Pakistan and Army than Mansoor Ijaz. This case has as much merit as the manufacturing drugs charges against the PM’s son. How many man-hours and money would the Supreme Court judges and three HC CJ take to decide one case based upon just one witness and one unsigned memo?
I request Judiciary to please stop agonizing people in the name of unsigned paper, a coined story with fake characters. Memo is a dead horse, why you are trying to find something out of nothing. There is a quagmire of issues, why you don’t take panic to resolve them. People are dying for justice and you are playing memo game. Please grow up a mature nation, we have to travel a long. How long we will continue spreading controversies and playing politics, Pity on the poor people of Pakistan. Masses have nothing to do with memo. They are not interested in conspiracies, they want justice, they want good governance, they want better life and you are busy in political games. Is this what your portfolio demands? Or is it you have taken oath for? Please show some mercy on the million of people of this ill fated country.
I guess the powers that be in Pakistan have determined that Pakistanis are going through some really hard times. Hence they need some entertainment. The result is this broadway show called Memogate. As always, without the quality of course!.
There is sheer criticism on Hussain Haqqani even though his guilt is not proved yet. He has surrendered his black berry and Laptop as well for investigation but what about Mansoor Ijaz and his designs? He cannot be alone. Media should expose all Mir Jafars and Mir Sadiqs of this country who clearly showed disloyalty to their people and their country. Such people are bent on damaging Pakistan through their evil designs. If Haqqan is guilty then Mansoor Ijaz is also to be blamed as he acted as carrier to that memo, and thought nothing of asking a foreign country’s help against their own armed forces. But nothing is going to happen, as all they wanted is the firing of Haqqani and they have got it. They might still be hoping that a coup will be born of this scandal, but I am sure that the people of Pakistan still haven’t forgotten the last dictatorship.
There is sheer criticism on Hussain Haqqani even though his guilt is not proved yet. He has surrendered his black berry and Laptop as well for investigation but what about Mansoor Ijaz and his designs? He cannot be alone. Media should expose all Mir Jafars and Mir Sadiqs of this country who clearly showed disloyalty to their people and their country. Such people are bent on damaging Pakistan through their evil designs. If Haqqan is guilty then Mansoor Ijaz is also to be blamed as he acted as carrier to that memo, and thought nothing of asking a foreign country’s help against their own armed forces. But nothing is going to happen, as all they wanted is the firing of Haqqani and they have got it. They might still be hoping that a coup will be born of this scandal, but I am sure that the people of Pakistan still haven’t forgotten the last dictatorship.
Data of phone calls, facsimile transmission, verbal appearance through video conference and a lot of talks does not mean that Mansoor Ijaz is right. Not a single document is signed byHussain Haqqani. Mansoor Ijaz has admitted that he wrote the memo. What else proof the Memo Scandal Commission wants to prove that Mansoor Ijaz is playing with his concocted story, whereas the Obama Administration is keeping silent on this issue and not a single word has come out from State Department, confirming that Mansoor Ijaz is right.
This generation of Pakistanis can now fathom how ZAB's trial must have been conducted. If this commission is not a kangaroo court, I don't know what is.
NRO Politians thinks Pakistan has come in the dowry of there mothers ,they can make whatever constitution they want and still don't follow it.
this commission should be referred to judicial commission how they wasted millions and how shameless mr sheikh is playing a game of lies
The lawyers of other petitioners’ including Barrister Zafarullah Khan and Advocate Salahuddin Mengal were not present during the hearing.
This explains everything. Mr. Nawaz Sharif jumped into this bandwagon only to counter any possible political mileage that PTI might have gained over his traditional voters. Once the issue was politically dead, he doesn't give a damn over the so-called "national security" issue.
Again, regarding Gillani case, PML-N took the most extreme position that may resonate the most among its voters. PTI couldn't do better. In short, right now PML-N's only priority is its survival. They have an uphill task for their party not to be renamed to PML-(GT Road Group).
The PCO judges should know that "jo shakhe naazuk par bane ga wo aashiyan na paaydar ho go". One unreliable witness, a proven and documented enemy of Pakistan and army, Mansoor Ijaz cannot be taken as the basis of the whole case. The witness and prosecution is the same and appointed by the judges cannot be called justice even on Pakistani standards.