WASHINGTON: The United States said Monday it was 'gratified' that
Pakistan s highest court had lifted travel curbs imposed on Husain
Haqqani, the country s scandal-hit former envoy to the United States.'We
are gratified that the government of Pakistan has lifted the travel ban
on ambassador Haqqani -- specifically the Supreme Court of Pakistan --
and that he s free to travel as he chooses,' State Department
spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.'And we continue to expect that
Pakistan will resolve this situation and other internal issues in a
transparent manner and upholding Pakistani laws and constitution,'
Nuland told reporters.Haqqani was forced to resign as ambassador to
Washington over claims that he was involved in drafting a secret memo
trying to enlist US help to curb the power of Pakistan s military. He
denies the accusations.The Supreme Court had restricted his travel and
ordered judges to investigate who was behind the memo, heightening
frenzied speculation that President Asif Ali Zardari could be forced out
of office.'He is allowed to proceed out of country,' chief Justice
Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said in his order, after lawyer Asma Jehangir
guaranteed her client would appear before judges at four days notice
if required.Last week, the investigation appeared to come unstuck when
judges ruled out travelling abroad to hear the testimony of American
businessman Mansoor Ijaz, who alone had implicated Zardari in the
document. (AFP)
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