“I was the first to demand an inquiry into the memo affair and offered to resign in my November 16 letter to the president simply because Pakistan needed an ambassador in Washington who was not being subjected to a media trial at home,” said Husain Haqqani — File photo

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's former ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani Friday said he returned to Pakistan to clear his name in the memo affair and defend the credentials of the democratically elected government he served honourably.

In a statement issued by him for the media, he said, “I am confident that when the inquiry is completed, I would be vindicated.”

He said, “ My lawyers have advised me out of respect for the honourable judiciary to not address the media until the matter is heard in court on the 19th (of December).”

“This does not mean, however, that I have no case to make or point of view to explain. I should not be condemned without due process,” he added.

Haqqani said, “I was the first to demand an inquiry into the memo affair and offered to resign in my November 16 letter to the president simply because Pakistan needed an ambassador in Washington who was not being subjected to a media trial at home.”

“This is my response to those who say if Haqqani was not guilty why did he resign,” he remarked.

Unfortunately, Haqqani said, some people have decided to play prosecutor, witness and    judge all at the same time, presenting claims as evidence and statements of one man with clearly questionable credentials as fact.

He requested talk show hosts to allow the people of Pakistan to calmly witness the ongoing judicial and parliamentary processes instead of every day allowing repetition of harangues that presume guilt and create fear.