Dawn – Memo case: SC directs Asma Jahangir to file request for Haqqani’s security

Islamabad, 13 November 2012. During Tuesday’s hearing of the memo case, the Supreme Court directed Asma Jahangir, the counsel for Hussain Haqqani, to file a request with Secretary Interior K M Siddiq Akbar for obtaining security for her client, DawnNews reported.

A nine-judge larger bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry has been hearing into the controversy revolving around the memo scandal after the judicial commission constituted by the Supreme Court had held that Haqqani was the originator and architect of the memorandum sent to former US military chief Admiral Mike Mullen seeking US intervention to avert a possible overthrow of the civilian government by the military.

During the hearing, the bench told Jahangir that Haqqani should explain what kind of fears he had with respect to returning to Pakistan.

Jahangir told the bench that the country’s security situation was at its worst and added that the court had itself expressed concern over the law and order situation in Karachi.

The counsel further said that Haqqani had asked why it was essential for him to come to Pakistan.

The chief justice said if Haqqani failed to return, an arrest warrant would be issued against him.

Jahangir said in the past, Haqqani was considered important enough to be allowed to stay in the prime minister’s house, adding that, now he would have to file a request with the interior ministry for his security.

Moreover, during the hearing, the interior secretary told the bench that Haqqani would be provided security in light of the dangers he faced.

Subsequently, the court adjourned the case’s hearing sine die.

http://dawn.com/2012/11/13/memo-case-sc-directs-asma-to-file-request-for-haqqanis-security/

Dawn – Arguments completed in memo probe commission

Malik Asad

Islamabad, 5 May 2012. Arguments before the commission investigating the so-called memo scandal for the past four months were concluded on Friday and the commission which is yet to decide matters relating to forensic test of evidence adjourned its proceedings till Saturday.

Soon after the parties concluded their arguments, Zahid Hussain Bokhari, the counsel for former ambassador Husain Haqqani, told reporters that his contract with his client had ended and, therefore, he would not appear in further proceedings of the commission.

In his concluding remarks, advocate Bokhari said that American businessman Mansoor Ijaz wrote an article in the Financial Times in October 2011 when he was sure that the Research in Motion (RIM), the service provider to the BlackBerry company, had deleted the record of exchange of messages.

Mr Ijaz was quick to waive his privacy rights because he knew that RIM had deleted the record. Mr Haqqani, he said, was not aware of this, but still he also waived his privacy rights.

According to the data provided by the businessman, Advocate Bokhari said, Mr Ijaz had made nine calls to his client in May 2011 while Mr Haqqani made two calls to him.

He pointed out that the claim of Mr Ijaz of having taken dictation from Mr Haqqani for drafting the memorandum in a 16-minute telephone call was false because it was not possible to note down the memo consisting of 900 words in this time. The wide range of topic, covering events from 1971 to 2012 and beyond, the Pak-US relations, nuclear assets, political and military relations, and cooperation in the fields of law enforcement, economy and other fields could not be summarised in less than 20 minutes, he added.

He accused Mr Ijaz of sending emails to Mr Haqqani from fake addresses like USA007 and some emails from the address of his son because he wanted Mr Haqqani to delete emails without reading them.

It was his plan to trap Mr Haqqani because he saved emails in order to use them at a proper time, he added.

The businessman, he said, was a critic of the Pakistan army, nuclear programme, Inter Services Intelligence and energy sectors’ initiatives and in the so-called memo controversy, he tried to destabilise the country on the directions of some foreign intelligence agencies.

Deputy Attorney General Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri supported the arguments of Advocate Bokhari. He said Advocate Sheikh had claimed that his client was a simple businessman although he was engaged in talks in Sudan, Kashmir and other parts of world and had links with about 24 intelligence agencies of the world.He said Mr Ijaz was loyal only to the US and had nothing to do with Pakistan’s interests. Defending the absence of Mr Haqqani, DAG Jahangiri said the former ambassador, due to his ailment, could not attended the proceedings but was ready to be cross-examined via a video link from abroad.

Justice Faez Isa, the head of the commission, remarked that instead of repeating the arguments of Mr Bokhari, the DAG should concentrate on other aspects and should come up with something different.

He said it was not a good sign for the government that its ambassador was showing reluctance to appear in the court and the government had failed to persuade him to record his testimony.

The businessman did not speak against the government of Pakistan and President Asif Ali Zardari, but he spoke in their favour, Justice Isa said and asked the DAG: “Do you think he was wrong?” The DAG did not respond.

Advocate Akram Sheikh, the counsel for Mr Ijaz, told the court that the commission should not extend any favour to Mr Haqqani because he had defied its orders and, despite several summons, did not appear to record his statement.

On the other hand, Mr Haqqani criticised the Supreme Court and the memo commission in the media and even accused the judiciary of delivering biased verdicts, he added.

Referring the Murphy law, evidence act and principles of adverse presumption, Advocate Sheikh said that a fugitive from any inquiry or proceedings could not be entitled to court’s indulgence.

http://dawn.com/2012/05/05/arguments-completed-in-memo-probe-commission/

BBC News – Pakistan court orders ‘memogate’ inquiry

30 December 2011. Pakistan’s Supreme Court has set up an inquiry into a controversial unsigned memo that asked for US help in curbing the powers of the military.

The court said a panel of four high court judges would conclude its findings within a month.

The “memogate” scandal concerns a note allegedly sent from Pakistan’s political leadership to US Admiral Mike Mullen, via a former ambassador.

President Asif Ali Zardari’s aides deny any links with the document.

Pakistan’s civilian leaders were allegedly worried that the army was about to launch a coup after US forces killed Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad in May.

They say any court inquiry into the affair would be unnecessary and politically motivated. The government argues that a parliamentary committee is already looking into memogate.

Correspondents say Friday’s ruling will put additional pressure on the government and could even lead to President Zardari’s fall from power if a link is established.

“I think that this is one of the darkest days in history for the judiciary,” said a lawyer for Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US, Husain Haqqani – who denies any role in the affair.

“I said in the Supreme Court too that this is a very disappointing judgement. This is a judgement that places national security above fundamental rights,” lawyer Asma Jahangir said.

Earlier this week President Zardari accused Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry of failing to investigate the murder of his wife, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

He was addressing party supporters on the anniversary of Ms Bhutto’s killing.

He pointed to a hearing the Supreme Court opened over the leaked memo as proof the court has been inconsistent.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16366386

Dawn – Sherry Rehman makes comeback, gets Haqqani’s post

Baqir Sajjad Syed

24 November 2011

Islamabad: The government named on Wednesday member of parliament and rights activist Shehrbano (Sherry) Rehman as ambassador to the US, a day after Husain Haqqani had been asked to resign over allegations that he had sought Washington’s help against a possible military takeover.

“Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has appointed Ms Sherry Rehman as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States of America,” a handout issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said.

Before making the appointment public, Prime Minister Gilani met Ms Rehman to formally inform her about the decision.

“I see it as a major challenge and hope to bridge some divides and, at the same time, be an equally strong advocate for Pakistan’s interests,” she said while talking to Dawn.

Ms Rehman, a former journalist and federal minister, is reputed to be a strong supporter of women and minority rights. She faced death threats for demanding reforms in the blasphemy law. The proposed amendment was later withdrawn by her ‘in line with party policy’.

She quit the federal cabinet in 2009 because of differences with President Asif Zardari over media curbs.

Her nomination came as a surprise to many analysts because she was never thought to be a contender for the post.

Earlier this year, however, there were speculations about her being appointed as foreign minister, a position that eventually went to Hina Rabbani Khar.

Ms Rehman strengthened her foreign policy credentials by setting up the Jinnah Institute, a think-tank which, among other themes, focused on foreign relations, including the country’s ties with India and Afghanistan.

She has also been involved in Track II diplomacy for normalising ties with India.

“She co-chairs several track-two strategic dialogues with India and is convener of a similar institutionalised dialogue process between Pakistan and Afghanistan later this year,” her profile released by the Prime Minister’s Office said.

A foreign ministry source said “the principals” (the Foreign Office top brass) had been intimated about the choice on Monday.

“Sherry Rehman appoints pro-military Ejaz Haider as head of Jinnah Institute to replace her. It seems they all knew about five days ago what the game was,” Ayesha Siddiqa, a defence analyst, wrote in a posting on her Facebook page.

Another source closely following the developments in the memo scandal that has forced this change claimed that Ms Rehman was a ‘compromise’ choice.

The military establishment directs the country’s foreign policy and has been keen about asserting its influence in the Washington embassy because of the critical importance of the position in managing the complicated Pakistan-US ties.

“She’ll be positively seen by the military because she doesn’t carry any baggage, unlike Mr Haqqani who had been very critical of the military,” Ambassador Ali Sarwar Naqvi, who heads the Centre for International Strategic Studies, said.

Besides proving herself to be a representative of both the military and civilian leadership in Washington, something that proved to be her predecessor’s Achilles Heel, one of the major challenges for Ms Rehman would be to improve the country’s image by neutralising the negative propaganda there.

“Sherry Rehman looks like a good choice in that she is well-known to Americans, extremely articulate and politically astute,” Daniel Markey, Pakistan Expert at the Council of Foreign Relations, said.

Ambassador Naqvi too believes she would have a good impact in Washington.

Although bilateral ties currently look to be on somewhat even keel after months of friction, Ms Rehman would not be landing in a very friendly environment.

There have been calls by congressional leaders for cutting aid to Pakistan for allegedly not effectively dealing with terrorism. Republicans have been particularly harsh about Pakistan in the presidential debate.

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/24/sherry-makes-comeback-gets-haqqanis-post.html