Judicial Commission summons Rehman Malik over his controversial statements

The Judicial Commission, tasked to probe the controversial memogate scam, in the latest move summoned Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik over issuing controversial statements pertaining to the memo case.

The commission on Tuesday resumed the hearing of the memogate case in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) building, saying Mansoor Ijaz is the prime witness in the case, hence, his security should be ensured. Justice Qazi Faez Issa, the chairman of the commission inquired as to why Mansoor Ijaz had not come to the country.

Akram Sheikh, the counsel of US-based business tycoon, Mansoor Ijaz, prayed before the commission that his client wanted to come to Pakistan but he was constantly receiving threats.

He, at the same time, stated his client was not satisfied with the security provided by the interior ministry. The lawyer asked the panel that a brigadier-level military officer should head the security team.

Furthermore, in a written statement, Mansoor Ijaz said his arrival could have led to a clash between Pakistan’s state organs.

In remarks, Justice Issa said that the commission had not issued any directives to dissociate the interior ministry from Ijaz’s security team. He observed the interior minister was intervening in the commission’s matters.

Attorney General Maulvi Anwar-ul-Haq told the commission that Rehman Malik had been contacted and would be appearing soon.

A couple of days back, Rehman Malik had said Mansoor Ijaz’s name would be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) if the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) investigating the memogate scandal orders so.

The judicial panel asked what motives were behind Malik’s statement of putting Ijaz name on ECL. It further added Malik have not yet rejected or verified his statement.

“Inquiries are held all over the world but here the inquiry becomes a game,” Justice Qazi Faez Issa remarked. He is leading a three-member panel to probe the memogate case.

It is likely to decide on Tuesday whether or not it will go abroad to record the testimony of American businessman of Pakistani origin Mansoor Ijaz after he expressed dissatisfaction over security arrangements and is not coming to Pakistan.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Jan 24 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.