Memogate case: SC directs NAB to fetch Hussain Haqqani

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan tasked the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday to bring Hussain Haqqani, a former Pakistan ambassador in Washington, back to the country.

A bench headed by chief justice Saqib Nisar heard the Memogate scandal case and ordered Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to release itself from the task of bringing Hussain Haqqani back while handing over the task to the anti-graft watchdog.

The top judge asked about a way out in a scenario wherein the United States refuses to repatriate Hussain Haqqani, to which the deputy Attorney General responded that all actions must be taken in accordance with the laws of the US.

The deputy Attorney General apprised the Supreme Court “We will have to approach the division of mutual cooperation and consultation of the foreign office to proceed in the case.”

He added, “Under the corruption case, the custody of Haqqani will be sought.” In the light of which, NAB is the most efficient institution to bring Haqqani back, the deputy Attorney General proposed.

Then the apex court tasked the anti-corruption body to initiate the work on Haqqani’s repatriation and ordered “Legislation for repatriation of the accused should be passed from the parliament within a month.”

The hearing of the case was adjourned till September 3.

Memogate Scandal

In 2012, a judicial body had investigated the Memogate scandal and submitted its report to the apex court, holding Haqqani guilty of authoring an explosive memo and termed his acts as disloyalty to the country.

Haqqani is alleged to have written a memo to Adm. Mike Mullen, the top US military officer at the time, offering greater government cooperation in return for helping to avert possible dismissal of the civilian government in the wake of the May 2 raid in year 2012, which led to the capture and killing of Osama bin Laden.