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The Supreme Court building in Islamabad.—File photo
ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court on Monday further eased tension in the country’s worst crisis in civilian-military ties since a 1999 coup by lifting a travel ban on a former envoy to Washington, who angered the generals after the emergence of a murky memo.
Husain Haqqani was barred from leaving the country in December by the Supreme Court, which is investigating the memo that sought US help in reining in Pakistan’s generals after the US raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in May last year.
On Monday, a panel of nine justices said that Haqqani was free to travel outside Pakistan.
“I am glad that the Supreme Court has restored my right to travel, which had been rescinded without any charges being filed against me,” Haqqani told Reuters after the decision.
“I will join my family in the US after discussions with the leaders of the Pakistan People’s Party.”
The scandal, which has come to be known as “Memogate”, highlighted the tense relationship between Pakistan’s civilian governments and the powerful military that has bedevilled the country for decades.
The military, which sets foreign and security policies, has ruled Pakistan for over half its 64-year existence through a series of coups.
Haqqani returned to Pakistan in November last year amid the crisis that erupted when businessman Mansoor Ijaz alleged in October that a senior Pakistani diplomat had asked the memo to be delivered to the Pentagon. He resigned as ambassador shortly after arriving back in Pakistan.
Ijaz later identified the diplomat as Haqqani, who denies any links with the memo.
No evidence has emerged that the military was plotting a coup and the Pentagon at the time dismissed the memo as not credible.
But in the months that followed, the scandal threatened to turn into a full-blown conflict between the civilian leadership and the military, instability the insurgency-hit US ally cannot afford.
Ijaz was scheduled to testify before the commission in January, but he did not come to Pakistan because of security fears, he said.
CREDIBILITY
Ijaz’s refusal to testify in person and demands for high levels of security have also annoyed the court, and diminished his credibility, Salman Akram Raja, a Supreme Court advocate and constitutional expert, said.
“When Mansoor Ijaz did not show up last week, that signalled the de-escalation of the crisis,” echoed security analyst Imtiaz Gul. “The removal of restrictions on Haqqani’s travel was the next logical step in this de-escalatory process.”
Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani made conciliatory remarks towards the military in Davos this weekend.
Army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani has also moved to calm the rhetoric, saying he supports democracy and limited the military’s responses to press releases.
“It’s clear the government and the military have arrived at an understanding on this,” Raja said. “This is consistent with the impression of the general de-escalation surrounding the memo matter.”
Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML – N) leader Zafar Iqbal Jhagra welcomed the decision of extending the commission’s timeframe, saying that the memo’s importance could not be denied and that facts of the issue needed to be established.
Senior analyst Rasool Baksh Rais said giving more time to the commission was the correct decision.
For a transparent probe of the affair, the commission had to be given more time, he added.
Rais further said that since Ijaz had stuck to his stance therefore his testimony to the commission was necessary.
He was of the view that an environment of fear had been created which was restraining Ijaz from coming to Pakistan.
I do not agree with the author, as it was obviuos that Supreme court had no grounds to stand on, though they tried their level best to implicate Zardar and Haqqani. I think our common man on the street sees that Judiciary, Military, ISI and Nawaz Shareef are just out there to destroy the current Democratic setup and have no interest for the well being of the common man. I am very optimistic, we will make it to the Elections and have another successful transition to Democracy. I think in history, Asif Zardari will be remmembered as the only democratically elected head of state who laid down the solid foundation of Democracy in Pakistan.
Memogate is not reality but conspiracy against democratic Gov.
Nawaz Sharif played a negative role which is shameful and regrettable.In fact,Sharif brothers did not learnt the lesson from the previous history.Their so called politics badly exposed.
Hussain Haqqani should be on the ECL, not on a flight to America…
Perhaps the Supreme Court got offended that Mansoor Ijaz refused to come to Pakistan for testimony despite security assurances. The Supreme Court is requested to take into consideration that Pakistan is a country where high-profile people like Akbar Bugti, Benazir Bhutto and supposedly Osama bin Laden have been killed despite tight security whether their own or of the state. Hence, it is not surprising that Mansoor Ijaz feared his life.
I personally feel that the Memogate is very much true, and if it is true and if such plans get implemented in the future, neither the Supreme Court, the Army and nor the government officials will suffer any harm for they move around in security protocols and have the means to leave the country anytime. It is us, the public, the common man who would suffer legalized aggression, terrorism and infiltration of foreign agents and agenda within our homeland.
With due respect, the Supreme Court has been unable to get the government to write a letter to the Swiss government. How does the Supreme Court expect Hussain Haqqani to appear before the court when ordered and the fact that he will not disappear into the blue?
Allowing Hussain Haqqani to go out of the country and to America is very discouraging and dangerous for the future of Pakistani politics and encouraging to treacherous elements within it.
The Supreme Court is requested to review its decision, call back Hussain Haqqani before he disappears for good and put his name on the ECL.
Ms. Nadia,
Perhaps you also beleive that we were invaded by Aliens.
You give credibility to a person who commented on "Nude Women" wrestling..
I am speechless for a person who supports Zardari.
As far as the women wrestling comments are concerned, if a person has made perverted comments about something, it does not draw the logical conclusion that he is a liar…
Answer to scandal is in behavior of Mike Mullen, self invited breakfast guest, One has to look for motive behind this game. Soon Mullen retired as chief of Army, he was first to accuse of wrong doing Pakistan along with his new appointed general in Afghanistan to pressure Pakistan Army. There is more to it than meets the eye. Decision by supreme court shows her even handedness in this matter and a rebuke to so called self styled secular, self centered critics of Supreme court.
There is always a tension between wrong and right. Please let some research to seek the truth the this so called EASE. In am of firm view some hidden hands played role to push forces to back out including Mansoor Ijaz and Military. Why should they do it, after they were the main players of this memo scandals.
Commission is seem to hits by Ego problems and look like a bureaucratic type. If country ISI chief can go to London and inquiry this allegations, why can't commission members can go. If they are really trying to seek the truth then go and seek evidence if any from Mansoor Ijaz, otherwise there is no use in wasting people money on continuing commission.
Why the commission is hesitant to find the truth. It seems as if the whole System is playing a foul game with people of Pakistan. Nothing can be done against the big fishes.