Mullen confident memo not sent by Zardari: Pentagon

Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby says there was nothing in the memo which indicated that it was from President Zardari.

WASHINGTON: The Pentagon has stated that Admiral Mike Mullen was confident that the memo delivered by Mansoor Ijaz was not sent by President Asif Ali Zardari, Express 24/7 reported on Tuesday.

Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby issued a statement that said the former US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen neither knew Pakistani American businessman Ijaz, nor has he communicated with him.

(Read: Memogate: Truth or fiction?)

Kirby added that Mullen knew the intermediary who brought the secret memo to him, adding that the memo was not signed and was not credible.

There was nothing in the memo which indicated that it was from President Zardari, he added.

(Read: Memogate: Firewalk awaits frayed ambassador)

State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland has said the United States hopes Pakistani leaders would act in accordance with the Constitution over the memo issue.

Talking to reporters, she said the US expects Pakistan's leaders to act in a manner respectful of its democratic institutions.

(Read: The case of the curious memo)

Earlier, a memo was published online by foreign newspapers, which was allegedly conveyed to Mullen by Pakistan’s ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani a week after the Osama bin Laden raid in May, was reportedly sent by President Zardari who at the time feared a military takeover in Pakistan.

(Read: ISI DG has all the evidence: Mansoor Ijaz)

The memo allegedly refers to “a dangerous devolution of the ground situation in Islamabad where no control appears to be in place”. It adds that if the military does take over, Pakistan may “become a sanctuary for Osama bin Laden’s legacy and potentially the platform for far more rapid spread of al Qaeda’s brand of fanaticism and terror”.

Haqqani, who has served as Pakistan’s representative to the US since 2008, denied that he had either drafted or delivered any memo. Referring to Mansoor Ijaz indirectly, the Ambassador said, “There are many businessmen in this world who claim to have a role in a country’s affairs, but they are not given importance. In Pakistan, however, one man’s claims create a crisis.”

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani on Friday vehemently denied Zardari’s involvement 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.

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.