Ijaz's lawyer seeks Army protection for client on Arrival in Pak over Memo Gate scandal

Islamabad, Jan 22 (ANI): Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz's lawyer has said sought the Pakistan Army's help to ensure his client's security when he visits Pakistan to testify on the Memo Gate scandal.

Rejecting security arrangements made by Interior Ministry Rehman Malik, Akram Sheikh said he would not recommend his client to appear before the Parliamentary Committee investigating the memo scandal on January 24 if the army did not provide security to Ijaz, the Daily Times reports.

Sheikh reportedly wrote separate letters to the Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq and Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, asking them to ensure Ijaz's security by army "from the point of his arrival in Pakistan and to the point of departure from Pakistan so that he could appear before the commission".

Sheikh said a failure to fulfil their commitment would render them liable to contempt of court.

In his letter to the army chief, Sheikh wrote: "Unless I receive a formal commitment from you today (January 21) that in accordance with the commission's direction, army personnel are going to be directly responsible for Mr Ijaz's personal safety, I will not be in a position to advice my client to travel to Pakistan." (ANI)