Pakistan court dismisses plea against Ijaz over memo scandal

A Pakistani court on Wednesday rejected a petition seeking the registration of a criminal case against Mansoor Ijaz, the central character in the memo scandal, for allegedly inciting people against the government.

Additional Sessions Judge Wajahat Hussain of Islamabad rejected the petition filed by Khalid Javed, an activist of the ruling Pakistan People's Party.

Raja Israr Ahmed Abbasi, Javed's counsel, told the court that Ijaz was "a secret agent of an anti-Pakistan lobby trying to defame patriotic forces and to destabilise the democratic government by publishing fake and baseless memo-related documents".

Javed's petition contended that Ijaz was allegedly inciting people against the government and was involved in harming the image of Pakistani state institutions.

Statements, articles and analyses published in the international media by Ijaz were sufficient to charge him for making false statements and declarations and presenting forged documents.

After hearing arguments, Judge Hassan issued a short order that rejected the petition.

Ijaz has said he intends to come to Pakistan on January 24 to appear before a Supreme Court-appointed judicial commission that is investigating the alleged memo made public by him. The memo sought US's help to prevent a coup by the Pakistan army after the killing of Osama bin Laden last year.

Ijaz, who lives mainly in Europe, was issued a visa by the Pakistani embassy at Berne in Switzerland. He will travel to Pakistan on January 24 to appear before the Supreme Court-appointed commission, media reports said today.