Haqqani reacts sharply to FIR

WASHINGTON: Pakistan's former ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani has reacted sharply to the FIR registered against him in Kohat.

“Considering that after so much media noise, the Supreme Court never even decided the so-called memo case, I don’t think an FIR filed to generate fresh media noise should be taken seriously," Haqqani said when asked about his response.

The FIR lodged against the former ambassador accused him of delivering hate speeches, and writing books and articles against the sovereignty of the country.

Haqqani has penned several books and articles in local leading newspapers criticising Pakistan's foreign and domestic policies. He maintained that those who did not like his research should rather publish their own to counter his arguments. "A constant hyper-patriotic media circus at home will not change the impact of my ideas all over the world. Books that are used as texts in universities around the world should be read and understood at home too instead of being made the subject of frivolous police proceedings," Haqqani said adding that the police should pay attention to "crimes, including rape of children, that go unpunished in Pakistan and should look for evidence against internationally recognised terrorists operating freely in the country.”

According to press reports, the FIRs also accused Husain Haqqani of contributing to enemy propaganda. The complainants said that Haqqani had caused irreparable loss to the country and defamed it. A copy of the FIR circulating the social media read that sections 120B and 121A of the PPC were applied.