Leading lawyer Asma Jahangir on Sunday refused to represent the former envoy to the US, Husain Haqqani, in the 'memo scandal' case anymore, private TV channels reported. Jehangir said she was quitting as Haqqani's lawyer as she had "no confidence" in the commission formed by the Supreme Court to conduct an inquiry into the 'memo scandal'.
"I told Haqqani to find another lawyer to represent him in the top court as well as the judicial commission," she was quoted as saying by the channels. She accused the judges of superior court of acting as acolytes of the establishment.
She said, "And if nine judges of the Supreme Court can be (under their influence), then I am sorry to say I cannot have any expectations from High Court judges, who are under (the apex court judges)." "Should we close our eyes? Should we allow ourselves to be fooled?. I have told my client he can appear before the commission if he wants to, and he will go. I have no confidence at all (in the commission)," Jahangir told a private channel.
"This is the court's order and we have to follow it but I told (Haqqani) to engage some other lawyer," she said.
Our reporter from Islamabad adds: The commission on 'memogate' controversy will initiate its proceedings on Monday. The three-member commission, comprising Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court Qazi Faez Isa as chairman, and Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court Iqbal Hameed-ur-Rehman and Chief Justice of Sindh High Court Mushir Alam, was constituted by the Supreme Court on Friday, December 30, 2011.
According to Commission Secretary, the hearing is scheduled for Monday at 11:00 am, at Islamabad High Court, for probing and ascertaining the origin, authenticity and purpose of allegedly creating, drafting and delivering the memorandum to Adm Mike Mullen. All concerned have been asked to attend this meeting.