Is memogate a reality?

Dr Raja Muhammad Khan
For almost a year now, the infamous memogate remained as an ambiguity, baffling the nation. After a thorough scrutiny of the case in the Supreme Court, it was handed over for a detailed investigation to a Judicial Commission.
The commission comprising three provincial chief justices; Balochistan High Court’s Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa (head of commission), Justice Mushir Alam, Chief Justice Sindh High Court and Chief Justice Islamabad High Court Justice Iqbal Hameed-ur-Rahman. The commission took almost five months to investigate the case and even travelled abroad to know the facts. After a detailed investigation of the infamous memogate, the commission finalised its findings in the form of 121 pages report on June 4. Since, the investigation of the memogate was ordered by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, therefore, the apex court has summoned Mr Haqqani to appear befor In the opinion of the legal experts, for conspiring against the State of Pakistan, Mr Haqqani may get a major punishment for “subverting the constitution of Pakistan, for treason and for harming the sovereignty of Pakistan.” Being a very astute personality and smart mover, Mr Haqqani perhaps knew this all, once he managed to leave Pakistan and now seeking US assistance for not coming back to Pakistan. Seeing his strong connections with his host country and US antagonism against Pakistan, it is obvious that he will be given full protection and would not come back to Pakistan to face a trial of this conspiracy. US record of accomplishment shows that this superpower fully support those, who work against their motherlands to promote US cause; the anti-state elements anywhere in the world.
Since we are waiting for the formal and legal proceedings by the Supreme Court under the honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan, until the final verdict, therefore, cannot predict any decision. However, we can debate some of its aspects and motives of the memogate. As the Judicial Commission has found Mr Haqqani guilty of memogate, therefore, there is a requirement to know, as why did Mr Haqqani take such an extreme step and could he do that all alone. Nevertheless, the Judicial Commission has not confirmed involvement of President Zardari, since Mansoor Ijaz had no proof of that but there must be some elements behind Mr Haqqani, besides US. After all Haqqani would not have been the lone beneficiary of the memogate. There is no doubt that United States had a role and this can be established from the channel used by Mr Haqqani to deliver the report to the then Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen. General James Jones, USMC (Ret), the former National Security Advisor of President Obama, who conveyed this memo to Mullen, has constantly supported Mr Haqqani in his testimony; he gave to the Supreme Court of Pakistan in writing.
What a coordinated move this was that after the testimony of General James, even Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr Yusuf Raza Gilani has declared that Memogate is a hoax. So much so, the honourable Prime Minister has thrashed his Army Chief and then intelligence chief, who gathered evidence and gave proofs, they had with them in their affidavits, once asked by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. While keeping Mr Hussain Haqqani in the Prime Minister House, against protocol, the Prime Minister sacked his Defence Secretary (a retired general) for processing the statements of the Army Chief and the ISI head. Should not the Premier be asked for giving undue protection and shelter to an accused in the PM House for so many weeks, who indeed conspired against the State of Pakistan. Besides, there should have been a selection procedure for selecting only patriotic people as the state’s envoy in other countries, especially where we have some stakes.
Then a question arises, if there was no one behind Haqqani and the memogate from the Government circle, then why did the ruling class promoted his viewpoint and kept him in PM House throughout, till his departure to US. Prime Minister supported Mr Haqqani in the National Assembly. On the issue of issuing thousands of illegal visas to the US agents by Haqqani, Premier Gilani supported Haqqani. He even questioned on the floor of National Assembly of Pakistan, that, I ask them (Army and ISI), “who gave visa to Osama Bin Laden”? Then the famous taunt of the PM in the National Assembly to Armed Forces that we have increased their pay by 100%, now what do they want. Should this have been a response and character of an elected PM to cover a traitor? I think, people of Pakistan should ask him.
This was all in response to the Army and ISI pursuing to know the details of the memogate, since it was against the security establishment of Pakistan, which Haqqani and his US masters were seeing as hurdle in the accomplishment of their mission. Should such a planning would have been allowed to be implemented, is a big question mark. One can understand the US planning and actions of getting rid of the current military establishment for not giving a free hand to US against its sensitivities, in Pakistan, but why Pakistani authorities support the US stance and its conspirator envoy is not understood. This indeed is big mystery, the SC of Pakistan should find in its proceedings for the award of final verdict.
Then, there has been a questionable role of some of the print and electronic media channels of Pakistan. Some of the paid anchors even tried to prove that the military establishment and the ISI have prepared this entire memogate.
They made their unconvincing and bold statements after receiving millions of USDs to defame the armed forces of Pakistan in the memogate case. Recently, after a disclosure of media scam, everyone in Pakistan have understood the reality of private media channels and particularly those channels having their foreign connections and funding. The honourable Supreme Court should sort out these black sheep too.
The findings of the Judicial Commission on memogate are clear. Mr Hussain Haqqani and his cronies in Pakistan, and the net beneficiary; the United States today stand exposed. All these elements wanted to jeopardise the security of Pakistan. Indeed, through, this memogate, US wanted an access to the security apparatus and nuclear arsenals of Pakistan by doing away with the irritant military commanders. In the entire episode, the ISI and the Military establishment have proved its worth by unearthing and timely defeating the conspiracy. Those who played role in timely unearthing of the conspiracy need national appreciation. However, as a nation we need to rethink our election and selection criteria of those, who play with the future of nation for their personnel petty gains.