ISLAMABAD: The judicial commission probing the memo scandal has given Husain Haqqani another chance to appear before them and summoned him on April 12.
The commission has ordered the former ambassador to appear before them with his Blackberry sets and other documents.
Speaking to the media, the counsel for the former ambassador, Zahid Bukhari said he will ask his client if he would be returning to Pakistan.
Earlier during proceedings, the commission had provided four options to bring Haqqani back to Pakistan. The options were: issue an arrest warrant, register a criminal case, seize Haqqani’s assets and initiate contempt of court proceedings.
During Firday’s proceedings, Director General of Foreign Ministry to US Sohail Khan told the commission that the former ambassador Husain Haqqani went to London from Washington without informing the consulate in 2011.
He recorded his statement and also presented the record of official documentation with the US from January 2011 to the time when Hussain Haqqan resigned.
When the commission asked about the details of Haqqani’s travel to London in May 2011, the DG told that the consulate does not have any written record of that time period. The two BlackBerry handsets are under the possession of the Government of Pakistan that were used by the former ambassador during that period, he told.
Mansoor Ijaz’s lawyer Akram Sheikh demanded the commission to seek details of the multi-million secret funds of Pakistan Consulate and its use by Husain Haqqani.
Husain Haqqani’s counsel Zahid Bukhari termed it an unnecessary and irrelevant issue, however, the commission sought details from April to December 2011 from the Foreign Office
Zahid Bukhari said the commission’s order seeking consent to waive privacy rights for accessing BlackBerry data has been sent to Husain Haqqani.
Shuja Pasha’s lawyer SM Zafar advised the commission to summon Haqqani via the Interior Ministry while he refused any need to call Admiral Mike Mullen. However, the commission could send him final notification if needed, he said.
Husain Haqqani cited a heart problem as the reason for his absence from proceedings that was disapproved by the commission as it was not satisfied with the excuse and thus rejected it.
Earlier, he wanted to give his testimony through a video link from London because he was desirous of having being treated in the same manner as the commission took care of Mansoor Ijaz. Later he came up with an excuse that he feels threatened to come to Pakistan because of Mansoor Ijaz’s connections with 24 intelligence agencies of the world.
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