If I leave my house, I fear I will be killed: Husain Haqqani

LONDON: embattled former ambassador to United States, fears he will be murdered if he leaves his sanctuary in the official residence of Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani in Islamabad.

In an exclusive interview with The Daily Telegraph South Asia Editor Dean Nelson on Tuesday, 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.'

Haqqani resigned last year after a Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ejaz claimed he had asked him to pass on a memo to the American government calling for their help to oust Pakistan's military leadership.

Haqqani was recalled from Washington and now faces a Supreme Court commission inquiry. He denied any involvement in 'memogate'. He told The Daily Telegraph the allegations against him are "false and part of a psychological war against the government of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani."

He said both the President and Prime Minister were standing behind him and were determined to stay and challenge the allegations. He further told The Daily Telegraph he had "only left the Prime Minister's residence on three occasions, each under heavy security escort.

I'm 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 Minister's house is the safest option.

"My good friend Salman Taseer was killed by a security guard because he heard in the media that the governor had blasphemed. I'm being called a traitor and an American lackey in the media with the clear encouragement of certain powerful quarters even though I've not been charged legally with anything," he said.

"If required I will appear before the inquiry commission with the necessary security. It is not what I would like to do. I'd like to be able to go to a restaurant or visit my family," Haqqani added.

"The President and Prime Minister are firmly standing behind me and the government is not going anywhere. This is psychological warfare against the government," he insisted.