Aaj TV carried out an exclusive interview with Hussain Haqqani, former Pakistani ambassador to the US. The interviewed was aired late on Monday.

The interview saw the reporter asking different questions from Mr. Haqqani and the former ambassador was calm in answering them.

Haqqani, during his interview, stated that he was not and offender and had not been convicted. Although as per Supreme Court’s judgment, a commission was to be formed to which Haqqani has filed a challenging review petition.

“When the commission is just trying to focus and verify only one aspect then I guess it can be done without our participation,” uttered Haqqani.

Haqqani further stated that he had withdrawn from the memo commission and not boycotted it, terming boycott to be a harsh word.

Haqqani pointed towards the media by stating that the media has strongly publicized the event, hence creating a tense scenario by continuously pointing towards the memo scandal to be a threat to the national security.

“An attack on the GHQ did not pose a threat to the national security, neither was Osama’s presence a threat to the national security such immense that it had tempted Nawaz Sharif to file a petition within the Supreme Court,” elaborated Haqqani.

The former Ambassador said that he remained a part of the entire proceedings because of his respect for the judiciary and his personal concerns with regards to the matter. He further said that it became evident later on that his views would not be heard.

Haqqani said that he has withdrawn from the proceedings and is waiting for the commission’s report to evaluate its constitutional and judicial effects.

Clarifying about his exit from the limelight, Haqqani stated it to be because of his ill-health.

The former ambassador termed Masoor Ijaz not to be a trustworthy man, further stating that Ijaz wrote articles for few newspaper in the US and the former ambassador had conversed with Ijaz more than a few times in normal criteria.

Talking about his BlackBerry phone, Haqqani said the questioned phone was not in his use and the former ambassador was never told to bring it along. Haqqani claimed that General Pasha testified that in his statement in front of the SC.

“People have still not been informed that Mansoor Ijaz’s BlackBerry has also not been handed over to the SC for forensic examination,” said Haqqani.

Haqqani questioned the usefulness of reviewing forensic examination, “When concluding evidence have been reviewed than what is the reason to ask for a forensic examination all over again,” questioned Haqqani.

Haqqani also added that Ijaz’s claims were published by a newspaper without any authentication and the Supreme Court’s verdict was also based upon the clips of the newspaper rather being based on any solid evidence.

Talking about Pak-US ties, Haqqani said that he did not want to comment about it since he remained a former ambassador there.

“I am not a supporter of US policies but a balance between the policies of two countries should be maintained,” said Haqqani.

“Pak-US terms should not be sabotaged by installing anger within the population of Pakistan,” opined Haqqani.