US senators concerned for Husain Haqqani
06 January, 2012
WASHINGTON: Three leading US senators on Thursday voiced concern over Pakistan's treatment of former envoy to Washington Husain Haqqani following the controversial memo that triggered a scandal. The statement from Republican senators John McCain and Mark Kirk as well as independent Senator Joe Lieberman voiced concern that Haqqani may be "becoming a political tool for revenge", and urged Pakistan to resolve the issue swiftly. "We are increasingly troubled by ambassador Haqqani's treatment since he returned home to Pakistan, including the travel ban imposed on him," the statement said, adding he had served "honourably" as ambassador to the US. "Like many in Washington, we are closely following ambassador Haqqani's case. We urge Pakistani authorities to resolve this matter swiftly and consistent with civilian rule of law," the senators urged. They said the government should "prevent the judicial commission investigating ambassador Haqqani from becoming a political tool for revenge against an honourable man". "We regret that the Pakistani people have lost a tough-minded, eloquent, and principled advocate for their nation's interests now that Ambassador Haqqani has departed Washington," the three senators added in their statement. The commission on Monday summoned Haqqani to testify as well as former US national security adviser General James Jones and ISI chief Ahmad Shuja Pasha. Haqqani has denied the allegations against him, and told Britain's Daily Telegraph earlier this week that the charges were "false" and part of a "psychological war" against him. End.
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