Former Pakistan's envoy to the US Husain Haqqani has served a legal notice on PTI chief Imran Khan over his "false" allegations targeting him, and asked him to cease from making the "defamatory" statements.
Earlier in January, Imran alleged that ex-COAS Qamar Javed Bajwa hired Haqqani to lobby against him and promote him (Bajwa).
“I write to demand that you immediately cease and desist from making false and defamatory statements about Mr. Haqqani, specifically falsely accusing Mr. Haqqani of providing lobbying services to Retired Army General Qamar Bajwa in the United States and launching a campaign against you, or taking any other actions to incite or cause your followers to harass Mr. Haqqani or cause him violence,” read the notice served by the former diplomat's lawyer, Steven Barentzen.
The counsel said his client had never been a lobbyist for anyone, in the US including [for] Pakistan’s current or former army chief.
He further said that the former diplomat had not accepted compensation from anyone in Pakistan to turn anyone in the US for, or against, any Pakistani political actor, including the PTI chairman.
Read this too: ‘Dishonest’ Imran Khan Desires Conspiracies To Further Self, Husain Haqqani Says
The communiqué termed the allegations not only “false” but also “dangerous”, being made “for the purpose of agitating and riling up your supporters against Mr. Haqqani.”
“This has compromised both his privacy and his personal safety”, he maintained.
Barentzen further told Imran that the conduct is particularly troubling give that his followers in Pakistan have been known to engage in violence, and have attacked prominent Pakistanis even outside the country.
He pointed out that the former diplomat is already being harassed by “your followers on social media and has legitimate concerns about his safety.
"Please be advised that if you do not immediately cease and desist making false and defamatory statements, and inciting your followers to violence, or much worse if something does happen to Mr. Haqqani, he is prepared without further notice to you to take whatever legal actions are necessary in the appropriate legal forum to not only protect and defend himself, but also to hold you accountable," the notice concluded.
Legal notice
Earlier in January, Imran alleged that ex-COAS Qamar Javed Bajwa hired Haqqani to lobby against him and promote him (Bajwa).
“I write to demand that you immediately cease and desist from making false and defamatory statements about Mr. Haqqani, specifically falsely accusing Mr. Haqqani of providing lobbying services to Retired Army General Qamar Bajwa in the United States and launching a campaign against you, or taking any other actions to incite or cause your followers to harass Mr. Haqqani or cause him violence,” read the notice served by the former diplomat's lawyer, Steven Barentzen.
The counsel said his client had never been a lobbyist for anyone, in the US including [for] Pakistan’s current or former army chief.
He further said that the former diplomat had not accepted compensation from anyone in Pakistan to turn anyone in the US for, or against, any Pakistani political actor, including the PTI chairman.
Read this too: ‘Dishonest’ Imran Khan Desires Conspiracies To Further Self, Husain Haqqani Says
The communiqué termed the allegations not only “false” but also “dangerous”, being made “for the purpose of agitating and riling up your supporters against Mr. Haqqani.”
“This has compromised both his privacy and his personal safety”, he maintained.
Barentzen further told Imran that the conduct is particularly troubling give that his followers in Pakistan have been known to engage in violence, and have attacked prominent Pakistanis even outside the country.
He pointed out that the former diplomat is already being harassed by “your followers on social media and has legitimate concerns about his safety.
"Please be advised that if you do not immediately cease and desist making false and defamatory statements, and inciting your followers to violence, or much worse if something does happen to Mr. Haqqani, he is prepared without further notice to you to take whatever legal actions are necessary in the appropriate legal forum to not only protect and defend himself, but also to hold you accountable," the notice concluded.
Legal notice