Memogate commission to record Mansoor Ijaz’s statement vie video-link

Despite American business tycoon Mansoor Ijaz Friday failed to avail a final opportunity to testify his statement, the judicial commission decided to record his statement via video link from Pakistan High Commission in London.

Chief Justice Balochistan High Court (BHC) Qazi Faez Isa said that the lawyers will be consulted and then a date will be decided when Ijaz would come to have his statement recorded.

The three-member commission, constituted by the Supreme Court to probe the inglorious memogate scandal, will carry out its proceedings in the Islamabad High Court while only the commission’s secretary will go to London in order to supervise and arrange the video link.

Justice Isa further informed that Lawyers in Islamabad will cross-examine the US businessman via video conference.

The counsel of the former ambassador to US Hussain Haqqani strongly opposed the commission’s decision. He was of the opinion the decision will create discrimination if, in the future, his client is not permitted to record his statement via video link.

In reply, Justice Isa said that if any lawyer wants to go to London on his own expense, then the court does not have any reservations on it.

On request of the judicial commission, the government of Pakistan wrote a letter to the BlackBerry manufacturer Research in Motion (RIM) requesting for data from the handsets allegedly used by Mansoor Ijaz and former ambassador Husain Haqqani.

Zahid Bukhari informed the panel that American courts have registered four cases against Mansoor Ijaz, saying that he could not enter the US which was why he keeps asking the court to record his statement either in Zurich or London.

In the later time, Barrister Zafarullah argued the judicial commission, saying Ijaz will never appear before the commission. He was of the opinion that the commission should not go abroad in order to testify him.

The lawyer further stated that panel should concentrate on the secondary evidences including papers and documents submitted to the court and decide the case on it.

Barrister Zafarullah and Akram Sheikh were seen exchanging harsh words on the premises of Islamabad High Court.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=12324

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Feb 10 2012. Filed under 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.