Daily Times

The Supreme Court on Tuesday resumed hearing of the suo motu proceedings on the implementation of the 2011 Memogate verdict.

The three-member bench led by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar inquired about the steps taken by the government to bring former Pakistani ambassador to the United States, Husain Haqqani, back to Pakistan.

Advocate Ahmer Bilal Soofi, who has been appointed amicus curiae in the case, informed the apex court that the case was facing difficulties due to lack of legislation on repatriation in such situations.

He said effective legislation was needed in order to bring back people from outside the country to face cases. The chief justice responded that it appeared that without amending the law, Haqqani could not be brought back to Pakistan. He directed Soofi to come up with a draft legislation in this regard in two weeks and adjourned the hearing.

During an earlier hearing on March 28, the Supreme Court had given the government a 30-day deadline to bring back Haqqani. Chief Justice Nisar expressed annoyance at the delay in the case and warned that the court would not accept any excuses after the deadline’s expiration.

Published in Daily Times, June 27^th 2018.