The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday ordered the federal government to bring back Pakistan’s former ambassador to US Husain Haqqani in connection with his involvement in secret memo case.
The memogate scandal revolves around a memorandum, addressed to the US army general Admiral Mike Mullen, seeking help of the Obama administration to avert a military coup in Pakistan.
A US-Pakistani businessman Mansoor Ejaz spotlighted the scandal, alleging that the memo was written at the instructions of Hussain Haqqani. The controversy led to the resignation of Haqqani.
After six-month investigation, the SC-formed judicial commission said that the memo was indeed authored by Haqqani himself.
In January last year, Haqqani left for the US after the Supreme Court eased travel restrictions that were imposed on him. He had promised to come to Pakistan on the apex court’s directives.
On Tuesday, Haqqani’s counsel Asma Jahangir appeared before Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry-led nine-member larger bench of the Supreme Court.
She stated that last night she came into contact with his client who has reservations over coming back to Pakistan on the grounds that all complainants in the case have come into power. “He said they are free to do whatever they wish,” Jahangir told the court.
At which, the CJP observed that “the court will allow no one to commit excess to anyone regardless of whosoever holds the power.”
He ordered secretary interior to ensure Haqqani’s court appearance within four weeks and provide all out security to him.