Daily Times

Former Pakistan ambassador to the United States and prominent dissident Husain Haqqani has described FIA’s report to the Supreme Court about his extradition as ‘another gimmick aimed to stir the Pakistani media.’

Haqqani said the FIR alleging financial crimes was registered only in March 2018, seven years after he left office and only after failure of Pakistani authorities to silence him with other charges, including treason.

“I have not received any warrants or inquiries from Pakistani authorities over the last seven years even though these are periodically reported in the Pakistan media,” he said.

I have not received any warrants or inquiries from Pakistani authorities over the last seven years even though these are periodically reported in the Pakistan media

Haqqani stated, “New allegations filed more than seven years after my forced resignation are obviously manufactured and those making the allegations know these are untrue.”

“I doubt that Pakistan government will actually initiate extradition proceedings against me that are certain to fail and, in the process, open up examination of their Secret Service Expenditures in the US,” said the former ambassador. He said that instead of targeting him with false charges and propaganda, his detractors in ‘Pakistan’s deep state’ should address the issues he raises in his writings and speeches about the country’s direction. Haqqani described the various charges against him, from the Memogate case to the latest accusations, as a “farce”. “After all, everyone knows they are bothered by my views not any actions I may have taken as ambassador seven years ago,” Haqqani concluded.

Published in Daily Times, January 7^th 2019