Memogate scandal: Commission finalises its report

Findings have been finalised and will be forwarded to the Supreme Court.

ISLAMABAD: The commission probing into the Memogate scandal finalised on Monday its report after 23 days of proceedings and directed its secretary to forward the findings to the Supreme Court.

The scandal started when Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz claimed in May last year of having received a message from then Pakistan’s ambassador to US Husain Haqqani to deliver a confidential memo to Admiral Mike Mullen asking for US assistance against a possible military takeover of the civilian government.

The commission, comprising three provincial chief justices, told a media briefing that its findings had been finalised and secretary Raja Jawad Abbas has been directed to forward the report to the Supreme Court.

The commission also thanked former attorney general of Pakistan Maulvi Anwarul Haq, Deputy Attorney General Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, legal counsels of both parties and the staff of the Islamabad High Court for their cooperation during the proceedings.

ilanid! a `(o the unrest in Balochistan. He revealed that to address the political issues of the province, the prime minister has constituted a political committee. Law Minister Farooq H Naek, Senator Raza Rabbani, Chengez Khan, Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Riasani and two of his ministers are part of this committee.
The committee is slated to report to the prime minister on its progress on a weekly basis.
Unregistered vehicles
Meanwhile, the court sought a comprehensive report from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) regarding unregistered vehicles and motorbikes in Balochistan.
A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, served a notice on the FBR chairman and asked how many vehicles and motorbikes were banned in compliance with the court orders.
During Monday’s hearing, no one on behalf of the secretary of Excise and Taxation appeared to brief the court about the details of unregistered vehicles. The court repeated its notice.
The court also accepted application of five cellular companies to become party in the case. They were asked to file their statements before next date of hearing, before adjourning the hearing till June 11.