I
SLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) resumed hearing the infamous
memogate case Monday as former ambassador Husain Haqqani failed to
appear before the court.
A nine-judge larger bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry resumed the hearing today for which notices were issued to 20 parties in the case.
During today’s proceedings, Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry remarked that Husain Haqqani should have kept his promise as he was not granted exemption from appearing before the court. He further said that the petitioners were instructed to submit replies and objections within five days.
Replying to this, Husain Haqqani’s lawyer Asma Jahangir apprised the bench that a copy of Haqqani’s letter was shown to Barrister Zafarullah for information after the hearing.
On this, Justice Saqib Nisar said that the letter is a mutual conversation between a lawyer and his client. ‘What is the legal status of such conversation?’ Justice Nisar questioned.
Asma Jahangir told that the reasons of Haqqani’s absence and objections over the memo commission were submitted on which Barrister Zafarullah had submitted Haqqani’s letter regarding his refusal on appearing before the court on July 12. Justice Nisar told that the letter was returned by the court.
Asma Jahangir said that the memo commission had declared him a traitor and told that her client has serious threats to his life if he will return to Pakistan. She demanded from the attorney general to provide security to Husain Haqqani and a guarantee for safe departure.
She also alleged that calling Haqqani back is just a trick with him.
Replying to this, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani said that the commission had only given its opinion that has not been approved by the court yet.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry said that the attorney general has already assured about providing security to the former ambassador. He further said that the court has never demanded his permanent stay in the country and that he can submit his request to the interior secretary to provide foolproof security from his arrival till departure.
Chief Justice, then, questioned the attorney general if he could guarantee Husain Haqqani’s security. Replying to this, the attorney general said that it is not his job but the government can be asked to provide him security.
On this, the court summoned the interior secretary.
It is pertinent to mention that the memo controversy emerged when US based businessman Mansoor Ijaz wrote an article in the ‘Financial Times’ revealing about the memo written to Admiral Mike Mullen on behalf of the Pakistani government in order to seek help from the Obama administration in the wake of the Osama bin Laden raid to avert a military takeover of the civilian government in Pakistan.
Several petitions were filed in the Supreme Court, pleading to investigate the matter. Consequently, a larger bench comprising nine judges and headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was formed by the SC to hear the petitions.
A judicial commission was also formed to probe the matter that declared the memo a reality and hold then US ambassador Husain Haqqani responsible to draft the memo. His counsel in the case, Asma Jahangir has also filed the petition against the report.
SLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) resumed hearing the infamous
memogate case Monday as former ambassador Husain Haqqani failed to
appear before the court. A nine-judge larger bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry resumed the hearing today for which notices were issued to 20 parties in the case.
During today’s proceedings, Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry remarked that Husain Haqqani should have kept his promise as he was not granted exemption from appearing before the court. He further said that the petitioners were instructed to submit replies and objections within five days.
Replying to this, Husain Haqqani’s lawyer Asma Jahangir apprised the bench that a copy of Haqqani’s letter was shown to Barrister Zafarullah for information after the hearing.
On this, Justice Saqib Nisar said that the letter is a mutual conversation between a lawyer and his client. ‘What is the legal status of such conversation?’ Justice Nisar questioned.
Asma Jahangir told that the reasons of Haqqani’s absence and objections over the memo commission were submitted on which Barrister Zafarullah had submitted Haqqani’s letter regarding his refusal on appearing before the court on July 12. Justice Nisar told that the letter was returned by the court.
Asma Jahangir said that the memo commission had declared him a traitor and told that her client has serious threats to his life if he will return to Pakistan. She demanded from the attorney general to provide security to Husain Haqqani and a guarantee for safe departure.
She also alleged that calling Haqqani back is just a trick with him.
Replying to this, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani said that the commission had only given its opinion that has not been approved by the court yet.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry said that the attorney general has already assured about providing security to the former ambassador. He further said that the court has never demanded his permanent stay in the country and that he can submit his request to the interior secretary to provide foolproof security from his arrival till departure.
Chief Justice, then, questioned the attorney general if he could guarantee Husain Haqqani’s security. Replying to this, the attorney general said that it is not his job but the government can be asked to provide him security.
On this, the court summoned the interior secretary.
It is pertinent to mention that the memo controversy emerged when US based businessman Mansoor Ijaz wrote an article in the ‘Financial Times’ revealing about the memo written to Admiral Mike Mullen on behalf of the Pakistani government in order to seek help from the Obama administration in the wake of the Osama bin Laden raid to avert a military takeover of the civilian government in Pakistan.
Several petitions were filed in the Supreme Court, pleading to investigate the matter. Consequently, a larger bench comprising nine judges and headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was formed by the SC to hear the petitions.
A judicial commission was also formed to probe the matter that declared the memo a reality and hold then US ambassador Husain Haqqani responsible to draft the memo. His counsel in the case, Asma Jahangir has also filed the petition against the report.
No comments:
Post a Comment