PCNS summons Hussain Haqqani, Gen. Pasha

PCNS summons Hussain Haqqani, Gen. Pasha

The Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS), tasked by the government to probe the infamous memogate issue, Friday summoned former ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani, top spymaster Lt General Ahmed Shuja Pasha to explain their respective
positions on the issue.

The 15-member parliamentary body also decided ‘in principle to call’ Pakistani-origin US business tycoon Mansoor Ijaz, the so-called whistleblower on the issue, which seems to have the army and civilian government at loggerheads.

The committee’s meeting was held Friday in the Parliament House and with Senator Raza Rabbani in the chair.

“All the individuals will help the panel to prepare consequential recommendations over the matter”, said Raza Rabbani while speaking to reporters after conducting the meeting.

The meeting discussed the issues of inglorious memo and NATO’s attack on Slala Check-post in Mohmand Agency.

A tough January is ahead for the DG ISI and Haqqani, as the members of the committee are ready with tough questions.

The body will be all out to assert its relevance after questions were raised by the PML-N lawyers, individuals and even by the court about its powers and legal position with regard to investigating the memogate case.

Raza Rabbani said that all the documents regarding the memogate had been circulated among members of the committee.

Responding to a query, he said that the committee will decide that how Mansoor Ijaz could be summoned, but added that diplomatic channel – foreign Office – would be right a choice to call Mansoor Ijaz to the PCNS.

“Recognized diplomatic channels to bring Mansoor Ijaz to the forum because he is an American national,” Rabbani added.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Friday also constituted a three-member commission to probe the issue, declaring the petition over memogate as maintainable.

Regarding hearing of memo issue in the Supreme Court, the chairman said that there was difference between hearing of issue in the Supreme Court and the proceeding of parliamentary committee. 

The chairman said that the committee had prepared a working draft on the basis of recommendations of its members. He stated the draft has been circulated among the members to finalize it in the next meeting scheduled for Tuesday.

He informed that the representatives of the Foreign, Finance and Defence Ministries would also be asked to be appeared in the meeting, seeking their input on the draft.

Rabbani maintained that after getting input of all the stakeholders and final discussion on the NATO issue, the committee would send its recommendations to the Prime Minister to present it to the joint sitting of the Parliament.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Dec 31 2011. Filed under Latest News, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry