Memo gate: Husain Haqqani, the ambassador, will give explanation, says Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani

Memo gate: Husain Haqqani, the ambassador, will give explanation, says Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani

Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani told to member of the National Assembly on Friday that Pakistan’s ambassador to United States of America (U.S.A) Husain Haqqani has been summoned to Islamabad to give an explanation to the country’s leadership.

A memo was published online by foreign news papers, which alleged fears of a military coup in Pakistan and the army’s complicity in the Osama Bin Laden (OBL) raid. That memo was purportedly forwarded to US Adm Mike Mullen by a Pakistani American businessman
Mansoor Ijaz at the request of Ambassador Haqqani during the week following OBL raid.

Haqqani denied that he had either drafted or delivered any memo. Haqqani has served as Pakistan’s’ representative to the US since 2008. Haqqani said while referring Mansoor Ijaz indirectly, there are many businessmen in this world who claim to have a role
in a country’s matters but they are not given significance.

Mike Mullen made a statement in which he confirmed the existence of the document and shocked the world. Pakistan Prime Minister Mr. Gilani passionately denied the involvement of Pakistan President Mr. Asif Ali Zardari in the scandal. He added that the Pakistani
intelligence and military are held in high regard by the government and they will be protected according to the constitution.

 “We should show political maturity regarding this matter. I have already summoned Ambassador Haqqani here in Pakistan to give an explanation to the leadership of this country,” said Gilani on the Assembly floor amid applause from Pakistan People’s Party
parliamentarians.

“Newspapers print many articles against you and me, should we believe everything?” he asked.

He reassured the Assembly that rumours of the country being divided or the dissolution of national intuitions are baseless. Gilani firmly stated that any change that comes will be through the democratic process.

Waxing poetic

Amid cheers from his party, Prime Minister Gilani tried to appease parliamentarians during the Assembly session by saying that the government will resolve the issue regarding the memo scandal just as it has tackled others.

“Gum-e-ash gar an ho gab, to gram-e rosary ho gab,” (If it is not heartbreak that will bring you down, it will be unemployment woes) he said, adding that the government is repeatedly facing crises and is “mentally prepared” to tackle any issue,
as it is used to facing such issues “every morning”.

“When we wake up in the morning, we ask ‘what will be the issue today?’” he remarked.

“We will remove the thorns from your way; your relationship with America will move forward in an honourable manner,” he asserted, requesting patience and adding that politicians should not indulge in a blame-game.

“Panic has been created because of one newspaper article,” he said. “We have already taken action. What else do you suggest we do?” he asked.

The prime minister ended his speech with the concluding remarks that parties should work together to resolve all issues, including this one.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=4064

Posted by M Aftab Qureshi on Nov 18 2011. Filed under National. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry