Memogate: SC orders interior secretary to arrange security for Haqqani
Bench expresses displeasure over secretary’s absence from the court during the hearing.
The commission expressed its discontent over Haqqani’s absence to record his statement. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court ordered the interior secretary to finalise security arrangements for former envoy Husain Haqqani while hearing the Memogate case on Tuesday, reported Express News.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, heading an eight-member bench, ordered the interior secretary to report to the court after finalising the security arrangements. The bench also expressed displeasure over the secretary’s absence from the court during the hearing.
The secretary was also asked to talk to Haqqani regarding his arrival to Pakistan, his residence and his security concerns, and hold talks with the government and law enforcement agencies on the matter.
The hearing was adjourned till March 11.
Haqqani was implicated in a scandal in which he had a memo delivered to top US Admiral Mike Mullen offering greater cooperation against the Pakistan military in the aftermath of the Abbottabad raid on May 2, 2011. Haqqani denied any such involvement and resigned in protest.
During the last hearing of the case, Haqqani’s counsel Asma Jahangir submitted a letter to the interior ministry which said that her client was avoiding travel to Pakistan over security concerns which barred him from appearing in court.
In its short order, the court had asked the interior secretary to explain why the ministry had failed to ensure Haqqani’s safe return to Pakistan.
Letter to interior secretary
Haqqani also sent a letter to the interior secretary through his counsel, questioning the interior ministry about his security arrangements.
Haqqani, in a copy of the letter received by The Express Tribune, stated, “A number of self-appointed guardians of Pakistan’s integrity and ideology have targeted me and routinely send me threatening messages by email, twitter and on phone.”
He added that the authorities in the US have also repeatedly investigated the threats he was receiving. But “has the [interior] ministry investigated these threats or contacted US authorities in relation to these threats?” he questioned.
The former envoy also maintained that he has not been charged or tried in the Memogate case, but a general impression has been created that he has been found guilty of some crime which makes him a “a very likely target of hyper-nationalist vigilantes of which many are currently active all over Pakistan including within the security services”.
“Have any investigations been conducted to ensure that such vigilantes would not pose a threat to me if and when I come to Pakistan?” he further questioned.
Read the complete letter here.
The Supreme Court ordered the interior secretary to finalise security arrangements for former envoy Husain Haqqani while hearing the Memogate case on Tuesday, reported Express News.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, heading an eight-member bench, ordered the interior secretary to report to the court after finalising the security arrangements. The bench also expressed displeasure over the secretary’s absence from the court during the hearing.
The secretary was also asked to talk to Haqqani regarding his arrival to Pakistan, his residence and his security concerns, and hold talks with the government and law enforcement agencies on the matter.
The hearing was adjourned till March 11.
Haqqani was implicated in a scandal in which he had a memo delivered to top US Admiral Mike Mullen offering greater cooperation against the Pakistan military in the aftermath of the Abbottabad raid on May 2, 2011. Haqqani denied any such involvement and resigned in protest.
During the last hearing of the case, Haqqani’s counsel Asma Jahangir submitted a letter to the interior ministry which said that her client was avoiding travel to Pakistan over security concerns which barred him from appearing in court.
In its short order, the court had asked the interior secretary to explain why the ministry had failed to ensure Haqqani’s safe return to Pakistan.
Letter to interior secretary
Haqqani also sent a letter to the interior secretary through his counsel, questioning the interior ministry about his security arrangements.
Haqqani, in a copy of the letter received by The Express Tribune, stated, “A number of self-appointed guardians of Pakistan’s integrity and ideology have targeted me and routinely send me threatening messages by email, twitter and on phone.”
He added that the authorities in the US have also repeatedly investigated the threats he was receiving. But “has the [interior] ministry investigated these threats or contacted US authorities in relation to these threats?” he questioned.
The former envoy also maintained that he has not been charged or tried in the Memogate case, but a general impression has been created that he has been found guilty of some crime which makes him a “a very likely target of hyper-nationalist vigilantes of which many are currently active all over Pakistan including within the security services”.
“Have any investigations been conducted to ensure that such vigilantes would not pose a threat to me if and when I come to Pakistan?” he further questioned.
Read the complete letter here.