Defying orders: Haqqani a no-show at memo case hearing in SC
Supreme Court displeased over Haqqani's absence.
ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court, resuming the hearing on the memogate scandal, was displeased when former Pakistan ambassador to US Hussain Haqqani defied its orders and did not appear before the court, Express News reported on Monday.
A nine-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, was hearing the case.
The court trusted Haqqani but he did not comply with the court orders, remarked an irked Justice Chaudhry.
The chief justice said that Haqqani had left on a four-day notice after reassuring in writing that he would return.
Asma Jahangir, who was presenting arguments on Haqqani's behalf, replied saying that Hussain Haqqani’s plea for immunity from court appearance was still pending.
Haqqani had earlier forwarded an application seeking review of the Supreme Court‘s earlier order that obligated him to appear in person.
Bringing to light the fact that the court was yet to approve or reject the request, Justice Chaudhry said that he should have appeared in court.
He said that the copy of Haqqani’s letter had not been given to the petitioners either.
Jahangir said that although it had not been given to him, a copy had been shown to Barrister Zafarullah.
When Jehangir remarked that Haqqani was afraid of coming here as the commission probing his case had also called him a traitor, Justice Tasadduq Hussain Jilani said that the court did not agree with the commission’s remarks.
Haqqani was implicated in the scandal where he allegedly had a memo delivered to Admiral Mike Mullen through Mansoor Ijaz. The memo had offered greater government cooperation in return for US backing against the powerful military in the immediate aftermath of the May 2 raid.
The chief justice said that the court had not ordered Haqqani to stay only in Pakistan.
When Jahangir said that he faced security risks, the chief justice enquired from the attorney general whether he could assure Haqqani of security.
He replied saying that although it was not his job to provide security, he could ask the government and let them know.
The court then summoned the interior secretary in this regard.
Top legal experts are convinced he will not return to Pakistan in the wake of the Memo commission report, which squarely pinned the blame on him for authoring the seditious memo.
The Supreme Court, resuming the hearing on the memogate scandal, was displeased when former Pakistan ambassador to US Hussain Haqqani defied its orders and did not appear before the court, Express News reported on Monday.
A nine-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, was hearing the case.
The court trusted Haqqani but he did not comply with the court orders, remarked an irked Justice Chaudhry.
The chief justice said that Haqqani had left on a four-day notice after reassuring in writing that he would return.
Asma Jahangir, who was presenting arguments on Haqqani's behalf, replied saying that Hussain Haqqani’s plea for immunity from court appearance was still pending.
Haqqani had earlier forwarded an application seeking review of the Supreme Court‘s earlier order that obligated him to appear in person.
Bringing to light the fact that the court was yet to approve or reject the request, Justice Chaudhry said that he should have appeared in court.
He said that the copy of Haqqani’s letter had not been given to the petitioners either.
Jahangir said that although it had not been given to him, a copy had been shown to Barrister Zafarullah.
When Jehangir remarked that Haqqani was afraid of coming here as the commission probing his case had also called him a traitor, Justice Tasadduq Hussain Jilani said that the court did not agree with the commission’s remarks.
Haqqani was implicated in the scandal where he allegedly had a memo delivered to Admiral Mike Mullen through Mansoor Ijaz. The memo had offered greater government cooperation in return for US backing against the powerful military in the immediate aftermath of the May 2 raid.
The chief justice said that the court had not ordered Haqqani to stay only in Pakistan.
When Jahangir said that he faced security risks, the chief justice enquired from the attorney general whether he could assure Haqqani of security.
He replied saying that although it was not his job to provide security, he could ask the government and let them know.
The court then summoned the interior secretary in this regard.
Top legal experts are convinced he will not return to Pakistan in the wake of the Memo commission report, which squarely pinned the blame on him for authoring the seditious memo.