Memogate: Commission's report says Haqqani authored memo
Report submitted to Supreme Court; CJ summons Haqqani to Pakistan.
ISLAMABAD:
A report submitted in the Supreme Court on Tuesday by the judicial commission probing into the Memogate scandal has stated that former envoy to the United States, Husain Haqqani, had authored the confidential memo, Express News reported.
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”.
‘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.
A report submitted in the Supreme Court on Tuesday by the judicial commission probing into the Memogate scandal has stated that former envoy to the United States, Husain Haqqani, had authored the confidential memo, Express News reported.
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”.
‘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.