The judicial commission investigating the Memo Scandal Thursday rejected Hussain Haqqani's petition to record his testimony via a video-link and directed him to submit details of secret funds that he utilised as Ambassador to the US. The commission's meeting was held at Islamabad with Justice Qazi Faiz Esa in the chair. The commission adjourned the proceedings till May 3.
However, the commission will continue to meet on a daily basis from May 3 to sum up final arguments on the available evidence collected through various channels. The commission also rejected another petition filed by Haqqani. That petition was aimed at taking away Mansoor Ijaz's right to record his statements through a video-link.
Haqqani's attorney, Zahid Bukhari, also presented details of Haqqani's assets before the commission. "Haqqani's account balance in Pakistan is Rs 150,000," he said. He argued before the commission that his client's health was not well and the doctors had advised him not to travel.
Zahid further said that Haqqani had been branded as "traitor", an "American Agent" and an absconder on twitter, facebook and other tools of social media. He claimed that Haqqani was receiving death threats and, his life was in danger in Pakistan. Justice Esa questioned if Haqqani was not safe in Pakistan then how he would be safe in the US. Earlier, the counsel of Mansoor Ijaz, urged the court to take away Haqqani's right to record his statement as he failed to comply with the orders of the commission.