Government ordered to bring back Haqqani
Court wants former envoy to US to be present within 30 days to face trial in Memogate case
The Supreme Court of Pakistan yesterday directed the government to bring back former ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani within 30 days to face the Memogate case trial.
The Memogate scandal emerged back in 2011 when Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz revealed that he had received an ‘anti-army’ memo from then-Pakistan envoy in Washington DC, Hussain Haqqani, on Asif Ali Zardari’s request for former chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen.
Yesterday, the apex court resumed proceedings in the Memogate case by summoning the interior and foreign affairs secretaries to brief the court about their efforts to bring Haqqani back to Pakistan.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC), headed by Chief Justice (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, resumed hearing the Memogate case.
Hearing the case, Justice Nisar remarked the court would not tolerate further delay in Haqqani’s return, adding that no positive development has taken place regarding Haqqani’s return. The CJP warned that the top court may issue arrest warrants if Haqqani does not return to Pakistan. Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director-general Bashir Ahmed Memon, who also appeared in the court, said that the judicial magistrate had handed the FIA the arrest warrants that were issued by the court earlier. He also assured the court that the warrants will be sent to Haqqani’s residence in Karachi and Washington.
Chief Justice Nisar warned that the court will not accept any excuse after the deadline passes. Memon told the CJP that the FIA had to follow a procedure in order to issue red warrants. “I will personally go to the United States for the case,” assured Memon.
The CJP also summoned additional attorney-general Rana Waqar to inquire about the government’s plan of arresting and bringing Haqqani back from the US. The AAG had also submitted an FIR against Haqqani over the misappropriation of funds at the embassy during his tenure.