Military coup was imminent: Mansoor Ijaz (Part Two)

The U.S. businessman also surprised the commission saying that he has authentic intelligence documents, which also carried the conversation between pilots of the American helicopters and officials of Pakistan Air Traffic control.

“This conversation contained minute-by-minute details of the conversation between the pilots of the helicopters and the air traffic controllers from the time of their entry into Pakistan, during the operation and till their departure to Afghanistan,” he stated.

Although Ijaz did not say Pakistan was aware of the Abbottabad operation, he clearly meant that someone in Pakistan, civil government, military officials or both were aware of the US action.

“The transcript also included the text of the conversations (about action and reactions) of President Asif Ali Zardari, his military secretary and Army Chief Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani following the killing of Osama bin Laden.

After some hesitation, Ijaz also handed over confidential documents to the commission’s secretary as Justice Isa compelled him to do so. Secretary Commission Raja Jawad Abbas will send the sealed documents to the commission’s member.

Earlier, at start of his cross-examination, Ijaz said he had drafted the memo without any pressure and being influenced by someone. Ijaz claimed that he still considered Haqqani as his friend.

Ijaz further informed that he was in contact with Haqqani for 10 years and they had exchanged 85 emails during this time. He also produced all those 85 emails to the commission on the demand of Nawaz Sharif’s Lawyer Mustafa Ramdey.

He said Haqqani and his friends in Pakistan and in the US including Interior Minister Rehman Malik and ex US officials tried to stop him coming to Pakistan for testifying in the secret memogate case.

“I received six messages of life threat,” he said adding one was a telephone call while others were emails and messages.

The commission also directed Haqqani’s lawyer to present some solid documents in favour of their client. “Ijaz is submitting the documentary proves and other record to support his statement while Haqqani has only denied everything so far,” Justice Esa asked the counsels.

The head of the commission directed Haqqani’s lawyers that he (Haqqani) should also provide his BlackBerry. “Should we consider Ijaz statement as correct if your client has nothing to submit before the commission,” Justice Isa remarked.

In his view, Haqqani at least should produce copy of his phone bills. “We are gentle so far but can be harsh if not treated well,” he stated.

The commission also directed the secretary to get information about forensic expert in London whether someone can check Ijaz’s blackberry in Pakistan High Commission. He added that commission could not rely on Pakistani forensic experts.

The commission rejected the application of petitioner Barrister Zaffarullah Khan for summoning DG, ISI Gen. Pasha before his retirement on March 17.

Petitioners’ lawyers will continue the cross-examination of Ijaz on Friday while Haqqani’s counsel Zahid Bukhari said he would start cross-examination after March 14.

Ijaz requested the commission to finish the process as early as possible. “My life is on hold for last four month,” he added.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=14436

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Mar 2 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan, Society. 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.