The judicial commission, which met here with Chief Justice Balochistan High Court Justice Qazi Faiz Essa in the chair, concluded the cross-examination of star witness Mansoor Ijaz. Ijaz was directed to make available his Black Berry handset for forensic analysis by experts.
Earlier, the counsel for Haqqani pleaded the commission that Haqqani would not be available in Islamabad because of a serious health issue. He requested that he should be cross-examined in London by Ijaz's counsel via video link. Bukhari sought from the commission the same kind of treatment extended to Ijaz.
Haqqani stated that it was very difficult for him to travel to Islamabad as he was also doing a private job in the US. He added that Supreme Court of Pakistan had not bound him to appear before the commission in person if required by it.
The commission declined the request, saying that their hands were tightened by the order of the apex court. The commission directed him to submit his reply to the allegations levelled against him by Mansoor Ijaz by Wednesday to the secretary commission.
Justice Essa asked questions from Ijaz about his detailed testimony submitted to the commission. Attorney General for Pakistan Anwarul Haq also completed his cross-examination of Ijaz.
The commission asked Ijaz as to why he though Pak military was embarrassed by the May 2 incident and it was planning to topple the elected government unconstitutionally?
Ijaz replied that after receiving assertions from Haqqani, he had contacted four of his American and non-American sources. Two of them informed him about the unprecedented movement of former DG ISI Shuja Pasha. Other gave him the document regarding what happened during May 2 raid on Osama bin Laden's compound. "Therefore, I reasonably believed on the assertions of Haqqani," he added.
Ijaz further said he had no independent collaboration with the office of President Zardari to verify the claim made by Haqqani that he had been authorised by him. However, he said, he relied on Haqqani's words because of his documented and close relationship with Zardari and Benazir Bhutto.
"Did you heard that US President Obama or any other US official acknowledged that President Asif Ali had prior knowledge of May 2 operation against Osma in Abbottabad," the commission asked Ijaz. He replied he had never heard from any quarter of US government about that.
Ijaz alleged that Haqqani had developed close relationship with US government officials and US establishment. He (Haqqani) assured them in case US would have problem in Pakistan, he would resolve them.
The commission directed Mashaal Malik to come up with a fresh application and they would consider the possibility of permitting his spouse, JKLF leader Yasin Malik, to appear before the commission to defend him.
It is to be mentioned here that Ijaz had alleged that he had arranged a meeting of Malik with official of Indian intelligence agency, RAW.