ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for former Ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani after he failed to appear in the court to face charges in the infamous “Memogate” case.
Haqqani had to resign from his post in 2011 after being accused of seeking American help against Pakistan’s armed forces.
The controversy reared its head just days after US Navy SEALs killed Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad.
It was widely described as the “Memogate” scandal since Haqqani had allegedly shared his request with US officials in a written memorandum.
The content of the documents was revealed by Pakistani-American Masoor Ijaz, who claimed to have handed it over to officials in Washington on Haqqani’s behest, kicking up a political storm that has not entirely died down.
On Feb. 8, the Supreme Court issued a notice to Haqqani to appear before its bench to face the charges against him, but the former ambassador, who resides in the US, did not comply.
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has asked Interpol to issue red warrants for Haqqani, who said the development is politically motivated.
“Sad that highest court of Pakistan persists with such antics for local TV news coverage,” he tweeted. “Such political ‘warrants’ have not been honored abroad in the past, won’t work now.”
In January 2012, the Supreme Court allowed Haqqani to leave Pakistan while he was still facing charges in the 2011 case.
He has not returned since, though he has always said he is innocent and all allegations against him are fabricated.
Haqqani had to resign from his post in 2011 after being accused of seeking American help against Pakistan’s armed forces.
The controversy reared its head just days after US Navy SEALs killed Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad.
It was widely described as the “Memogate” scandal since Haqqani had allegedly shared his request with US officials in a written memorandum.
The content of the documents was revealed by Pakistani-American Masoor Ijaz, who claimed to have handed it over to officials in Washington on Haqqani’s behest, kicking up a political storm that has not entirely died down.
On Feb. 8, the Supreme Court issued a notice to Haqqani to appear before its bench to face the charges against him, but the former ambassador, who resides in the US, did not comply.
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has asked Interpol to issue red warrants for Haqqani, who said the development is politically motivated.
“Sad that highest court of Pakistan persists with such antics for local TV news coverage,” he tweeted. “Such political ‘warrants’ have not been honored abroad in the past, won’t work now.”
In January 2012, the Supreme Court allowed Haqqani to leave Pakistan while he was still facing charges in the 2011 case.
He has not returned since, though he has always said he is innocent and all allegations against him are fabricated.
