Memogate: Commission's report says Haqqani authored memo
The scandal had started when Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz claimed last year of having received a message from Haqqani to deliver a confidential memo to Admiral Mike Mullen, regarding a possible military takeover.
The Supreme Court also ordered the former envoy to come back to Pakistan.
The chief justice observed that when Haqqani was leaving Pakistan, he had assured the court that he will come back within a period of four days if summoned by the court.
The commission further informed the court that the memo was not a farce, but a reality. The report further claimed that the motive of the memo was to ensure the US that the civilian government of Pakistan is its ally.
The report stated that being an ambassador, it did not “suit” Haqqani to give such assurances to a foreign country.
The court sought a reply from Haqqani regarding the commission’s report.
The hearing was underway at the Supreme Court, heard by a nine-member bench, comprising Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice Jawad S Khwaja, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, Justice Tariq Parvez, Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice Amir Hani Muslim, Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry and Justice Azmat Saeed.
The hearing has been adjourned till two weeks, whereas notices were issued to all respondents in the case.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is getting the short order penned down.
The Supreme Court ordered that the report be made public.
The commission handed five “sealed envelopes” to the court.
The memo had contained a request to convey a “strong, urgent and direct message to Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani” that communicates Washington’s demand for him and the former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief General (retd) Shuja Pasha to “end their brinkmanship aimed at bringing down the civilian apparatus”.
Reacting to the commissions report, the former ambassador tweeted on the microblogging website Twitter, saying that he will challenge the commission's report.
‘Haqqani should be tried for treason’
Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Khawaja Muhammad Asif said that Haqqani should be tried on charges of treason and be made a “lesson” for others in the future.
Speaking on the premises of the Supreme Court, Asif said that a case should be initiated against Haqqani for compromising the sovereignty of the country.
He said that Haqqani should be tried for “subverting the constitution of Pakistan, for treason and for harming the sovereignty of Pakistan.”
Alleging that Haqqani was “an agent of the US,” he said, “He was on the payroll of the US. He was being paid $2 billion other than his salary for carrying out these gross activities against Pakistan’s interest.”
“He offered the US that Pakistan’s nuclear assets and its intelligence agencies will be compromised, and in return asked for power for himself and [President Asif Ali] Zardari.”
The PML-N leader said that the report proved that Haqqani was not “Pakistan’s friend” and that he had failed to secure Pakistan’s interest. He added that Haqqani had prioritised US’ interests over those of Pakistan.
Asif said that not only Haqqani, but the ones who “guided him” should be unveiled before the people.
COMMENTS (51)
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@Hunter Punter: wishfull thinking hey... keep dreaming there is no charge on it
@ahmad: these pco judges save billion of this nation and only who got caught in corruption has got ur mentality u can f of to US to join him
@M Usama Kabbir: why was he hidding his blackberry and why he is not coming to pakistan u can go and join him as well mate.
One is forced to question the calibers of these PCO judges. The question was not whether HH wrote the memo, even Mansoor Ejaz claimed that he wrote and authored: the question was whether HH ordered him to!
But alas commission hands over a pre-written report faxed from somewhere in Aabpara or Pindi.
@usman: No it isn't. Not even a little bit. Lets see you get put in his position and see just how cooperative you are. Don't give me that nonsense that you would be 100% cooperative due to your innocence after you career has been ruined, being called a traitor from the start, receiving death threats, friends turning against you at the drop of a hat, and so on. Not only that, but those things happening from the very same people who are simultaneously demanding unquestionable loyalty and compliance even though they treat you like trash. If he wasn't working negatively towards Pakistan and had all the good intentions in the world before this nonsense, he probably feels like a fool for it now. I know I most certainly wouldn't be hanging around a country treating me like that with a smile on my face. I'd be wanting to tell you exactly where to go and leave without looking back.
He must be extradited
I assume an extradition is in order?
Great job SC ! Bravo ! bravo!
He extradited back to Pakistan to be sentenced
"The report further claimed that the motive of the memo was to ensure the US that the civilian government of Pakistan is its ally." Saying things like that is complete crap in an "official" report. The only way that conclusion could come about as fact is if Haqqani himself said so or if it was stated bluntly in another way. They're trying to pass off theories as fact.
Look at evidence provided against HUssain Haqqani and his staements on record. Then look at evidence and statements of Malik Ishaq, Lal masjid mullahs and Hafiz Saeed.
One man is found guilty all others are acquitted. Interesting...
@usman: "Refusal to handover blackberry or its pin code is quite a solid proof by the way."
Not really. Mansoor Ijaz had already handed it over. The transcripts of blackberry were already available and not disputed. The word memo did not appear even once.Nor did any language pertaining to the memo.
@M Usama Kabbir: Memo Commission has nothing to do with ISPR. Haqqani has a checkered past and even without the inquiry, the people of Pakistan had no doubt about Haqqani's involvement in the Memo issue. What else can you expect from a crook who has all along been compromising national interests just to fulfill his own personal ambitions.
Partisan judiciary at its best.
Can't an Ambassador ask a foreign government for help to avert a military take over. Ambassadors have been doing it for centuries. Actually it was their original job.
Both Mansoor and Haqqani are dubious characters but fact is Mansoor cooperated properly with the commission compared to Haqqani! If Haqqani had nothing to hide why was he playing games regarding his blackberry!??
It is a scorn of judicial system. A person stands in a court and says, “I have killed 100 people, I shall kill when I shall be free”. He goes scot free for lack of evidence. Haqqani is culprit because Mansoor says so.
thats what PPP is all about, mental, social, financial corruption.................and HH is offocurse PPP's brain child
"He was being paid $2 billion other than his salary for carrying out these gross activities against Pakistan’s interest." Lol !! "Billions"?? Now you know how credible the Memogate Commission is!
The BIG QUESTION now is why he was shielded in President and later on in PM house,
This whole memo episode is a joke and signifies what is wrong with the Establishment/Judiciary nexus. It is impossible to prove in a court of law that Haqqani wrote that memo.
Law should be equal for every one irrespective of his nationality, cast, creed or post. Every party in court deserves the equal right and equal treatment. Granting one party with concessions makes the situation blurred and raises finger on the authority dispensing justice. This was the same done by the Memo Commission, it went to its extreme limit to prove allegations against Hussain Haqqani right. Though Mansoor Ijaz failed to produce any evidence against Hussain Haqqani, yet he was right because he was fulfilling the agenda of his joint master pulling the strings of memo commission as well. On the other hand Hussain Haqqani surrendered his portfolio for free, fair and impartial investigation but still he was doubted and blamed. It was pre-decided commission was just a drama to hoodwink the people of Pakistan.
A brand new precedence. One man convicted by a commission based on an unsigned piece of paper. The whole 7 billion people on the surface of earth be aware. You can be convicted based on no evidence.
@umer cause he is a Raymond Davis, you cannot touch him...
Big victory for patriotic Pakistanis. Now punish him under Article 6. that is Treason
A judicial commission that failed to pin point murderers when all foot steps were leading to in one particular direction, accuses Haqqani of treason on the verbal accusations of Ijaz, a man of dubious character. Now it remains to be seen that whether SC accepts the accusations of another dubious character namely Malik Riaz against Dr Iftikhar, son of CJP.
Refusal to handover blackberry or its pin code is quite a solid proof by the way.
the real problems of common pakistanis are unemployment, price hike, poverty at its hight, law and orders, etc - no one interested in memo................. why appointed him ! action be taaken againt powerful involved in f.o.
Pakistani politicians are better actors than the ones in Hollywood.
Dekha Dekha .. I told you so!
@krk: As far I see it is a game of vendetta between the establishments being played at expense of Tax payers money.
@krk and @ahmad - Arsalan has not run away from the country. His case is still before the court.
Wow 2 billion dollars paid by somebody to Haqqani : I will write 1000 memos for that.
No good deed goes unpunished.
Begining of the end,,,Pakistan is unravelling..all systems are on verge of beaking down..
Sadly how an innocent man found quilty?
What rot! Commission was hostile to Haqqani from the start ...
What about the people who supported him and/or appointed him to the position of Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, thereby upgrading his status from "Ambassador at-large", which was assigned to him soon after the current administration took the office!!!!
Husain Haqqani's influence in USA = 100%. Sherry Rehman's influence = ZERO.
This traitor must be hanged to set up an example....
If we make an example out of this ambassador how should it be? Was he a mere pawn? An agent for western anti-Pakistan lobbyists? Or on the other was he only representing his government? Were they planning to sell the country? His actions were motiveless and he was only doing this for money or a similar reward?
What benefit was he or his government to gain by removing the top Army brass? What change were they planning to bring by bringing in Generals as per US linkings? His boss shouldnt be implicated with same charges?
That's what Mir Jaffer said.
One down...few more to go!!
When Ijaz Mansoor himself accepts responsibility for writing the memo than how can Haqani be blamed for that? These judges just say what would make generals happy. I have a feeling it was a sting operation to oust Haqani.
What else can be expected from this judiciary? A judiciary who suspects the faith of the persons, how can it not suspect the patriotism. In this country, only Army, Judiciary and their touts are patriotic. Everyone else is Ghaddar.
As expected from this corrupt disgruntle man. He should be penalized in the strongest manner.
Sorting help from someone else to save your personal interests in the name of democracy is a clear treason. There must be no doubt about it and the culprits must be brought to justice. These people are western influenced agents just knocking detriments to our homeland. I heard him saying somewhere that pakistan is running out of options due the blockage of nato supplies. I guess he is running out of options.
The Chief Justice alongwith other respected judges are fighting for a just society,but alas no institution is supprorting them.Even the armed forces which were seen to be the last hope are now being seen as an Institution siding the bad boys.
When it comes to Haqqani there is no need of solid proof. What ever mansoor ejaz says is proof. When it comes Arsalan Iftiqar,every body needs solid proof which can be proved in court. No body wants to Arsalan how you made 3 foreign trips. How you got this much money in 3 years. When it comes to Arsalan it is conpiracy and when it comes to Haqani it is a different matter
Mockery of Justice. So Memo Commission issues an official ISPR statement. Down with Military Establishment.