ISLAMABAD - The Parliamentary Committee on National Security on Tuesday rejected the application moved by Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz seeking placement of key character in the memo case, Mansoor Ijaz, on the exit control list (ECL) and summoned Attorney General Moulvi Anwarul Haq to brief the committee members about the security measures taken for Mansoor and his refusal to come here for recording of his statement.
Sources aware of the deliberations of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security meeting held under its chairman Senator Raza Rabbani took up the application Raja Riaz wherein he had prayed to the committee to restrict Mansoor to stay in Pakistan till the completion of the probe into the memo scandal by placing his name on the ECL.
The committee termed the demand as absurd and disposed of his application with the comments that there was no need of it at all.
Meanwhile, Director General Inter-Services Intelligence Lt. Gen. Ahmad Shuja Pasha and former ambassador to US Hussain Haqqani submitted their statements before the committee but the statement of Mansoor was not submitted as his counsel had given the statement that his client was not bound to appear before the committee as he is not a Pakistani national and the directives of the committee is not binding on him.
After having preliminary discussion on the subject, the committee had decided that they would have a detailed discussion on the subject of committee’s jurisdiction on summoning Mansoor in its next meeting to be held tomorrow and would also examine in detail the statements submitted by Gen. Pasha and Hussain Haqqani, the sources in the committee informed TheNation.
It was further disclosed by the committee that the AGP was also to submit the details of the Judicial Commission’s correspondence with the Research in Motion (BlackBerry) company by January 23, but he could not do so and would likely to present the same on January 26.
The sources informed that on next date the committee would also have the opinion of the AGP on the committee’s legal jurisdiction on summoning a foreign national for his testimony.
The committee would also look into the circumstances, which had forced Mansoor Ejaz not to come to Pakistan for recording his statement and would also have a detailed view of the security arrangements made by the government in this regard from AGP.
Talking to media persons after the meeting, Rabbani said that Ahmed Shuja Pasha and Husain Haqqani have submitted their statements in the committee. However, he said, the committee has not received the statement of Mansoor Ijaz.
He said that the PCNS will meet tomorrow and wait for appearance of Mansoor Ijaz. He said that the committee is fully empowered to summon Mansoor. He said if Mansoor did not show up then the committee is empowered to adopt a future strategy.
The committee, in its last meeting held on January 16, had asked both the parties, Mansoor Ijaz and heads of relevant national security organizations to submit their statements before the committee by January 23.