Memogate: No faith in govt's security promise, says Haqqani's counsel
Court tells Haqqani to appear before it in person within three weeks "under any circumstances" or face legal action.
Haqqani was implicated in the scandal where he allegedly had a memo delivered to Admiral Mike Mullen through Mansoor Ijaz. PHOTO: PID/ FILE
ISLAMABAD:
A sovereign guarantee of security was rejected by former Pakistan Ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani's counsel in the Memogate case even as the court ordered that he return to Pakistan within three weeks or face legal action, Express News reported on Monday.
The court had resumed hearings on Monday after a five week recess of the case where former ambassador to US was implicated in a scandal in which he allegedly had a memo delivered through Mansoor Ijaz 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.
As a larger bench heard the case, the attorney general assured Haqqani that he will be given “fool-proof, VIP security” upon his return since the matter of security was projected as a hindrance from appearing in court earlier last month.
The former ambassador's counsel Asma Jehangir rejected this offer and said that they did not have faith in the government’s promise.
During last month’s hearing, Asma Jehangir had submitted a letter that she wrote to the interior ministry with regards to her client’s security. She informed that Haqqani cannot appear before the court in person due to security concerns.
Jehangir further said Haqani had been receiving threats via social media and asked the concerned authorities to investigate the matter.
The court has given Haqqani one last chance to be present at the next hearing, in three weeks time.
“Hussain Haqqani must be present at the next hearing under any circumstances, otherwise legal action will be taken”, said the chief justice.
The court’s message will be delivered to Haqqani through the Pakistan Embassy.
A sovereign guarantee of security was rejected by former Pakistan Ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani's counsel in the Memogate case even as the court ordered that he return to Pakistan within three weeks or face legal action, Express News reported on Monday.
The court had resumed hearings on Monday after a five week recess of the case where former ambassador to US was implicated in a scandal in which he allegedly had a memo delivered through Mansoor Ijaz 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.
As a larger bench heard the case, the attorney general assured Haqqani that he will be given “fool-proof, VIP security” upon his return since the matter of security was projected as a hindrance from appearing in court earlier last month.
The former ambassador's counsel Asma Jehangir rejected this offer and said that they did not have faith in the government’s promise.
During last month’s hearing, Asma Jehangir had submitted a letter that she wrote to the interior ministry with regards to her client’s security. She informed that Haqqani cannot appear before the court in person due to security concerns.
Jehangir further said Haqani had been receiving threats via social media and asked the concerned authorities to investigate the matter.
The court has given Haqqani one last chance to be present at the next hearing, in three weeks time.
“Hussain Haqqani must be present at the next hearing under any circumstances, otherwise legal action will be taken”, said the chief justice.
The court’s message will be delivered to Haqqani through the Pakistan Embassy.