Islamabad: The judicial commission, probing the memogate scandal, recorded statement of Mansoor Ijaz, the man at the center of the controversy, on Wednesday
The statement was recorded via video link from London by the commission headed by Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Qazi Faez Esa. Mansoor Ijaz reached the Pakistan London High Commission while the judicial commission was communicating Ijaz from Islamabad High Court building.
Mansoor Ijaz gave documentary evidences to Judicial Commission Secretary Raja Jawad Abbas who was present at the London High Commission.
After taking oath Ijaz started reading his written statement. Hussain Haqqani’s lawyer, who was present in IHC building, told that he (Ijaz) could not read written statement.
Ijaz said one year had passed after the occurrence of important events and he could not verbally state such events.
Mansoor Ijaz told the commission, present in Islamabad, that he had met former president Pervez Musharraf and incumbent President Asif Ali Zardari on different occasions in the past.
Ijaz also showed his BlackBerry Messages (BBM) to the commission . Zahid Bokhari objected that he was neither in London nor the Ijaz’s BlackBerry was Islamabad. Attorney General Pakistan Anwarul Haq said that the commission secretary was not aware of technical issues of the BlackBerry phone.
Mansoor Ijaz BBM was shown to the commission by zooming camera because Haqqani lawyer objected as to how the BBM could be verified .
Mansoor Ijaz told that ISI chief Let Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha met him in 2011 and inquired about his qualification, family and relations with then Pakistan ambassador to US Hussain Haqqani. Pasha had asked that he did not know his (Ijaz) background.
The attorney general said that the issue was about 81 BBMs and the commission secretary in London was not a forensic expert.
Zahid Bokhari said he had previously said that a witness outside the country could not be controlled.
The memo tribunal asked Bokhari to raise his objection that would be addressed. The commission asked Mansoor Ijaz to show his BBMs to secretary first and then to the commission.
At one moment Hussain Haqqani said that Mansoor Ijaz was non-serious as he was playing with his BalckBerry phone during the proceedings of the commission. Mansoor Ijaz put his phone on the table after the commission directed him to behave.
Mansoor Ijaz also raised objection over Zahid Bokhari’s attitude saying he was being perturbed by Haqqani’s lawyer.
Ijaz gave PIN code of BlackBerry and Email address of Hussain Haqqani and said that the Email address could not be changed.
He said that contacts between Haqqani and him started in May,2011. He noted that Haqqan sent him a message inviting at coffee or dinner saying he (Haqqani) had come to London for 26 hours.
He said that Haqqani told him that Pakistan Army was putting pressure on President Asif Ali Zardari and wanted to topple his government. He said Haqqani seemed panicked during his talk.
Mansoor Ijaz told the commission that Hussain Haqqani had told him President of Pakistan wanted to establish a security team and Gen Rtd. Gehangir Karamat and Gen Rtd. Mehmood Durrani would be part of that team. Haqqani also said that if US helped government remove Gen Kayani, people of US choice would also be included in Abbottabad commission that was to probe US raid that killed Osmaba bin Laden.
Ijaz said Haqqani has told him that he was doing so on the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari.
He said he did not know then US joint Chiefs of Staff Committee but Haqqani knew that he (Ijaz) had contacts with Gen James Jones. Ijaz said that Haqqani wanted that a message should be conveyed through the Americans.
He said that Haqqani has also said that Pakistan would provide access to widows of Osama bin Laden and would also help India in investigating Mumbai terror attacks.
Ijaz said Haqqani had also sought US protection for Pakistan’s nuclear assets.
Mansoor Ijaz said that keeping in view sensitivity of the matter Hussain Haqqani had specified codewords as Asfahani for Americans and Friend or Boss for Zardari.
 Mansoor Ijaz provided bills of mobile phone service to commission secretary. The commission asked its secretary to send the email containing bills via fax without reading and all the numbers be kept secret.
The proceedings have been adjourned till Thursday.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription