If I leave PM House, I fear I will be killed: Haqqani

Pakistan

If I leave PM House, I fear I will be killed: Haqqani

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'If I leave my house, I fear I will be killed', Haqqani says in an interview to British paper.

04 January,2012 02:39 pm

Husain Haqqani, former ambassador to Washington, fears he will be murdered if he leaves his sanctuary in the official residence of the countrys Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.In an exclusive interview with The Daily Telegraph, he said he has been branded a traitor and a Washington lackey by powerful quarters, and that he now fears he will be murdered like his friend, the late governor of Punjab, Salman Taseer, who was shot dead by one of his own security guards last year after being branded a blasphemer.Mr Haqqani was forced to resign last year after a Pakistani-American businessman claimed he had asked him to pass on a memo to the American government calling for their help to oust Islamabads military leadership.The businessman, Mansoor Ijaz, said the memo contained an offer, backed by President Asif Zardari, that if Washington helped to oust the current military leadership, a new national security team would disband the Army unit which collaborates with the Taliban and other anti-Western militant groups.He was recalled from Washington and now faces a Supreme Court commission inquiry amid accusations that he betrayed his country by colluding with the United States to compromise its sovereignty and territorial integrity.Both President Zardari and Mr Haqqani have denied any involvement in the memogate controversy and Mr Haqqani has vowed to challenge the allegations in evidence to the commission.He told The Daily Telegraph the allegations against him are false and part of a psychological war against the government of President Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani by certain powerful quarters.On Tuesday Mr Haqqani said both the president and prime minister were standing behind him and were determined to stay and challenge the allegations.He was speaking after his lawyer, Pakistans top human rights lawyer Asma Jahangir, revealed he had taken refuge in the prime ministers residence.He told The Daily Telegraph he had only left the prime ministers residence on three occasions, each under heavy security escort.Im a guest of the prime minister with whom I have had a long-standing political association. There are clear security concerns given the hysteria generated against me. Staying at the prime ministers house is the safest option”, Haqqani said.If required I will appear before the inquiry commission with the necessary security. It is not what I would like to do. Id like to be able to go to a restaurant or visit my family, he added.Friends of Mr Haqqani said he has been alarmed by repeated suggestions that his noose is tied or that he may turn approver and give evidence implicating President Zardari in the affair in exchange for immunity.They said none of the evidence against him, mainly BlackBerry message exchanges with Mansoor Ijaz, prove authorship or knowledge of the alleged memo to oust Pakistans military leadership.