High Powered Judicial Commission constituted by Supreme Court
to probe into the memogate scandal adjourning its proceedings till
January 09 and has again issued notices to all parties including Hussain
Haqqani, Mansoor Ijaz, Director General ISI.
The commission headed by Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court
Qazi Faez Issa and comprising Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Iqbal
Hameed and Sindh High Court Chief Justice Musheer Alam as its members
held its first meeting at the Islamabad High Court building on Monday.
Hussain Haqqani, the former ambassador to the US, and the ISI chief appeared did not appear before the commission.
Chairman Judicial Commission, Justice Qazi Faez Isa directed the
authorities to arrange a counsel for Hussain Haqqani if he was unable to
appear before the commission in person.
The commission has further directed to the government and all other
concerned authorities to cooperate for collection of forensic evidences,
adding that former Pakistani ambassador to United States Hussain
Haqqani should appoint a counsel otherwise no justification would be
acceptable.
It was also observed by the Justice Faiz Essa that government should
arrange a counsel for Haqqani, if he does not find any counsel.
Commission has directed to approach to the country director of Black
Barry Company through Secretary Interior, adding that a letter should be
written to Black Barry Company of Canada according to the law.
Commission also has directed to the federal and provincial
governments to provide security, adding that the notices to all parties
also should be published in newspapers.
Commission deciding open hearing of the memogate scandal probe has
directed to the Attorney General for Pakistan Maulvi Anwar-ul-Haq for
taking into custody the cell phones of Hussain Haqqani and Mansoor
Aijaz.
Justice Issa also directed the interior ministry to issue summons to
Hussain Haqqani in this regard. He also said that Mansoor Ijaz would be
provided security if he wanted to appear in person before the
commission.
The Commission also asked whether any departmental action was taken
against Hussain Haqqani, on which, the foreign secretary said that no
action was taken against him.
On the question of number of Haqqani’s meetings with Mansoor Ijaz,
the foreign secretary replied that ministry has no record about the memo
and Haqqani’s appointment was also not departmental.
Foreign Secretary SalmanBashir, Secetary Cabinet division Nargis
Sethi and Attorney General (AG) appeared before the commission and
submitted the relevant record before the commission.
During the course of meeting Justice Issa inquired that who had
appeared on the behalf of Hussain Haqaani. The Attorney General stated
that Asma Jahangir had appeared before the Supreme Court but he does not
know that who would be appear before the commission.
Justice Issa inquired from AG that whether the notices of commission
had been served to Haqqani. AG replied that notice has been served
through secretary interior.
The commission showing annoyance over absence of Hussain Haqqani has
summoned all record regarding activities of Hussain Haqqani as
ambassador in United States from the foreign office.
Meanwhile Deputy Director ISI appeared before the commission on the behalf of ISI chief Ahmed Shuja Pasha.
The commission while issuing notices to all the parties adjourned the
hearing of the matter till next Monday. The security was tightened and
roads were closed going towards IHC due to the meeting of the
commission; meanwhile the walk through gate was also installed before
the gate of court room number 01. SANA
