Army to provide security to Mansoor Ijaz

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has ordered the army to provide security to Mansoor Ijaz, the key figure in the explosive memo issue, as he is expected to appear before the judicial commission and the Parliamentary Committee on National Security in the coming week. The scandal has already claimed the scalp of former Pakistani ambassador to the US and created a serious legal and political headache for the top leadership of the ruling coalition

“The government has decided to issue directions to the armed forces of the country to act in aid of civil power in accordance with Article 245 of the Constitution, and a notification is being issued today (Sunday) in this regard,” the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP), Maulvi Anwarul Haq, told The News.

Article 245 of the Constitution relates to the function of armed forces which reads: “The armed forces shall, under the directions of the federal government, defend Pakistan against external aggression or threat of war and, subject to law, act in aid of civil power when called upon to do so.

“We have ensured all the possible security arrangements for Mansoor Ijaz to appear before the commission,” said the AGP. He further stated that in order to ensure foolproof security cover for Mansoor Ijaz, he had also held meetings with the secretary defence, secretary interior and heads of the law enforcement agencies.

He further said that DIG Security Dr Majeed had been assigned as the focal person for contacting Muhammad Akram Sheikh, counsel for Mansoor Ijaz, and ensuring him of ample security for his client. He said that he had also replied to Akram Sheikh for addressing his complaints regarding the security of his client.

Akram Sheikh had addressed a letter to the chief of the army staff (COAS) and attorney general of Pakistan (AGP), complaining that the government was not providing adequate security to his client Mansoor Ijaz.

Sheikh wrote to COAS Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani that his client had been issued a visa and he was ready to travel to Pakistan, but no assurance had been shared with him regarding his (Mansoor Ijaz’s) security measures to be provided by the army at the behest of the judicial commission.

Sheikh, in the letter, also warned that if he failed to find the promised security measures satisfactory, he would be obliged to request his client to call off his visit to Pakistan and were that to happen, then the blame would lie entirely on the Pakistan government.

Addressing the Attorney General of Pakistan, Akram Sheikh, in his letter, warned him of a contempt case for failing to implement the court’s order in this regard. He also asked the AGP to keep the interior minister out of Mansoor Ijaz’s security matters. Sheikh also wrote to the AGP that the people who pose a threat to his client were trying to provide him with security, which was unacceptable.