‘Haqqani to escape punishment even if link with memo proved’

DAWN.COM Zahid Hussain Bukhari, the counsel for Husain Haqqani, has said that even if any link between his client and the controversial memo is established the former ambassador to the US will not be punished. In an interview with DawnNews, Mr Bukhari however denied any link between Mr Haqqani and the memo, adding that the controversy had been created by Mansoor Ijaz, described as the main character in the episode. “But I say even if the link is proved — there is still no crime in it,” Mr Bukhari said. “We will then have to ask Mr Shahbaz Sharif and Mr Nawaz Sharif as to what did they say when Gen Musharraf was toppling the PML-N government.” Talking to Matiullah Jan of DawnNews TV, Mr Bukhari remarked: “We will ask whom did he ask for help at that time and it has to be noted who has not asked for help from the US in our history.” Sources said that Nawaz Sharif was expected to appear on Monday before the judicial commission investigating the case. Mr Bukhari has replaced Asma Jehangir, who has quit the case for not having confidence in the commission set up by Supreme Court to investigate the matter. Mr Bukhari, who is a former judge of the Lahore High Court and former president of the People’s Lawyers Forum, expressed the confidence that Mr Haqqani would not be punished under the law. Answering a question, Mr Bukhari said he would fully cooperate with the commission. “I will cooperate as long as the commission remains within the ambit of the law and the rights granted to my client Husain Haqqani under the law are honoured,” he added. He said the commission was not authorised to punish or even accuse anybody — its responsibility is only to investigate the matter and forward findings to the Supreme Court. “The case will be decided by the Supreme Court.” Mr Bukhari said the Supreme Court had only agreed to the existence of the memo. “They have not made any remarks on the status of the memo. “And it’s a fact we all agree on, that there is a memo,” he said and added: “But we say that this memo is the brainchild of Mansoor Ijaz and Mr Haqqani has nothing to do with it in any way.” Mr Bukhari said the apex court should treat Husain Haqqani and Mansoor Ijaz on equal terms. “When Mansoor Ijaz has spelt out his conditions to the court, all these apply to Mr Haqqani too,” the counsel said. “The court has restricted Mr Haqqani from leaving the country. Mansoor Ijaz should also be barred from leaving Pakistan till the case is decided.”