The Pakistani-American businessman who triggered the ‘memogate' controversy has written a “secret letter” to the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) in which he has disclosed some information. This was revealed by the nine-judge bench hearing the ‘memo scandal case' in its order on Monday without disclosing the contents of the letter.
In the order, the bench — headed by CJP Iftikhar Chaudhry — said the letter's authenticity could not be ascertained, adding that the request to keep it confidential would be decided as per law. Stating that it would have been better if Mansoor Ijaz had sent the letter to the court through his counsel, the bench decided not to consider the document at present and keep it in a sealed cover with the Registrar.
As for Mr. Ijaz's request that his evidence be recorded overseas, the court said this was a matter for the commission looking into the matter to decide. The commission has already turned down his request. The court also decided to lift the ban on the former Ambassador to the U.S., Husain Haqqani, travelling overseas while giving the commission a two-month extension. Mr. Haqqani — who resigned from the post in the wake of Mr. Ijaz's allegations that he was the mastermind of the memo submitted to Washington seeking its intervention in pre-empting a coup after the May 2 raid in Abbottabad — had been prevented by the court from travelling overseas.
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