Sajid Tanoli, the associate lawyer of Husain Haqqani submitted a request to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, stating that his client would not be able to appear before the commission on Monday as a threat to his life persists in Pakistan. – File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Yasin Malik, Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), appeared before the Supreme Court commission probing the ‘memogate’ scandal on Monday to clear allegations made against him by Mansoor Ijaz, DawnNews reported.

A three-member bench, headed by Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, resumed hearing the case today at the Islamabad High Court premises.

The bench granted the Kashmiri leader to record his statement before the commission.

Vital disclosures are expected from Yasin Malik, who had said that he would give details of his relationship with American businessman Mansoor Ijaz when he appears before the commission.

Mansoor Ijaz, the central character of the memo case, had alleged that he had arranged a meeting for Yasin with C D Sahay, a former Indian intelligence chief.

Yasin Malik has accepted meeting with Mansoor Ijaz several times. Speaking to reporters upon his arrival at Islamabad earlier today, Yasin said that he would reveal details of the meetings before the commission.

In response to the allegations, Yasin had requested the SC to make him a party to the case, adding that he had come to the commission personally and had not hired any lawyer as there was “no need to lie.”

The Kashmiri leader said he had nothing to hide and does not require any counsel who would do his job of turning lies into truth and truth into lies.

“God willing, truth will prevail,” he said.

Petitioner to the memo case, Barrister Mohammad Zafarullah Khan objected to the Kashmiri leader being made a party to the proceedings, claiming that Yasin has no connection with the memo case and Malik’s participation would serve to stretch the case.

Pakistan’s former Ambassador to the United States, Husain Haqqani has excused himself from appearing before the commission today. Justice Faiz Esa asked Haqqani’s counsel Zahid Bokhari about his absence even when he was summoned by the commission. Bokhari replied that his client had already filed an application in the apex court against the commission’s order, adding that Haqqani was currently in the US and had requested to record his statement via video link.

Sajid Tanoli, associate lawyer for Haqqani, had submitted a request to the SC stating that his client would not be able to appear before the commission on Monday as a threat to his life persists in Pakistan.

Sources told DawnNews that Haqqani would continue to stay abroad until the court decides on his request.