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Sunday, November 03, 2024  
01 Jumada Al-Awwal 1446  

No role in drafting or delivering memo: Haqqani

Pakistan's former ambassador to the United States, Husain Haqqani, on Monday told the judicial commission probing into the memo issue that he had no role in either drafting or delivering of the memo to former US Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen.

Recording his preliminary statement before the commission, he said "I have no knowledge of the origin, authenticity or purpose of the said memo as well".

"I was falsely accused in the media and (by) Ijaz of being the person that communicated the contents of the memo," said Haqqani.

Headed by Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court, Qazi Faez Issa, the commission comprises Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice, Iqbal Hameed-ur-Rehman and Chief Justice Sindh High Court, Musheer Alam, which conducted the proceedings of memo issue in the premises of IHC.

During the proceedings, Attorney General for Pakistan Maulvi Anwarul Haq apprised the Commission about memo issue and said that its previous order has been implemented and the notices were issued to all the respondents.

Zahid Hussain Bukhari, counsel for Husain Haqqani, apprised the bench that his client has no link with memo.

Attorney General informed the commission that earlier a request has been forwarded to RIM through the Counsel General of Pakistan in Toronto; however, no reply was received from the said company so far.

During the proceedings, Mansoor Ijaz's lawyer, Akram Shaikh told the commission that his client was not being issued visa for Pakistan.

The commission directed the embassies in Switzerland and United Kingdom to issue multiple visa to Mansoor Ijaz upon the receipt of his passport and application without other conditions.

Shaikh also informed the commission about a petition has been filed with a session court for arresting Ijaz and added that a false case was being registered against his client to intimidate him.

Advocate Akram Shaikh told the commission that his client had agreed to appear on Jan 16 before the commission, and requested foolproof security for his client.

"Security may also be provided to Mansoor Ijaz by the personnel of Pakistan Army along with other security agencies, the commission directed the Government on his request.

Moreover, Inter-Services Intelligence Agencey (ISI) chief, Ahmed Shuja Pasha, in a written letter to the commission requested for an in-camera proceedings of the case.

However, the chairman of the commission Justice Qazi Faez Essa said that the 'secret information' can be delivered to the commission in a sealed envelope.

Frensic experts from the ISI and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) also briefed the commission about the possibility of retrieving Black Berrymessages allegedly exchanged between duo.

Further proceedings were adjourned till January 16.