Perpetual arrest warrants issued for former US envoy Hussain Haqqani

Published October 5, 2018
Former envoy to the United States Hussain Haqqani. —File photo
Former envoy to the United States Hussain Haqqani. —File photo

Perpetual arrest warrants were issued on Friday for former envoy to the United States Hussain Haqqani, to bring him back to the country, based on the findings of a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) report, DawnNewsTV reported.

The FIA had registered a case against Haqqani in March for committing "criminal breach of trust, misuse of authority and embezzlement of funds".

The former US envoy is the principal accused in the Memogate scandal.

A hearing in the matter was held on Friday which was presided by special judge central, Irum Niazi.

According to the FIA report, Haqqani was also involved in the misappropriation of embassy funds to the tune of $2 million.

The report observes that the former envoy has purposely gone into hiding and mentions that a notification of summons had already been pasted outside his residence in Karachi.

An FIA official had earlier said that Haqqani’s wife was an American national, he might also be holding American nationality which may create a hurdle for the Pakistani authorities to bring him back.

In March, the official had said that according to the standard operating procedure, the FIA needed an arrest warrant issued by the court and other relevant documents regarding the case to get red warrants from Interpol.

The Supreme Court has already directed Haqqani to appear before the court in Memogate case but he has repeatedly failed to comply with the orders.

The ‘memo’ in question, delivered to a high-ranking American official allegedly at Haqqani’s behest in May 2011, had exposed serious rifts between the PPP government and the army after a US-based businessman Mansoor Ijaz brought it to light.

It was delivered to a high-ranking official and asked for help for the civilian government against the military because of the domestic turmoil triggered by the US raid that killed Al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden.

Opinion

Enter the deputy PM

Enter the deputy PM

Clearly, something has changed since for this step to have been taken and there are shifts in the balance of power within.

Editorial

All this talk
Updated 30 Apr, 2024

All this talk

The other parties are equally legitimate stakeholders in the country’s political future, and it must give them due consideration.
Monetary policy
30 Apr, 2024

Monetary policy

ALIGNING its decision with the trend in developed economies, the State Bank has acted wisely by holding its key...
Meaningless appointment
30 Apr, 2024

Meaningless appointment

THE PML-N’s policy of ‘family first’ has once again triggered criticism. The party’s latest move in this...
Weathering the storm
Updated 29 Apr, 2024

Weathering the storm

Let 2024 be the year when we all proactively ensure that our communities are safeguarded and that the future is secure against the inevitable next storm.
Afghan repatriation
29 Apr, 2024

Afghan repatriation

COMPARED to the roughshod manner in which the caretaker set-up dealt with the issue, the elected government seems a...
Trying harder
29 Apr, 2024

Trying harder

IT is a relief that Pakistan managed to salvage some pride. Pakistan had taken the lead, then fell behind before...