Ambassador Husain Haqqani arrives home in memo row
Hussain Haqqani, a close aide of President Asif Ali Zardari, has played a key role in helping Pakistan's civilian government navigate turbulent relations with Washington that nosedived over the US raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
Local media reports implicated Haqqani in a memo allegedly sent from Zardari to Admiral Mike Mullen, then America's top military officer, seeking to curtail Pakistan's military shortly after it was humiliated by the bin Laden killing.
Zardari reportedly feared that the military might seize power in a bid to limit the hugely damaging fallout in Pakistan after Navy SEALs killed bin Laden in the garrison city of Abbottabad on May 2.
The alleged memo, released last month by American businessman Mansoor Ijaz, said that a "new national security team" in Pakistan -- with US support -- could end ties between Pakistani intelligence and militants.
A senior government official told AFP that Haqqani "arrived early Sunday and is due to attend several meetings including a meeting with the President to explain the situation".
Haqqani has offered to resign over the row, but has denied any involvement with the document.
Pakistan's opposition leader Nawaz Sharif on Saturday demanded an independent commission to investigate the issue.
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@Myra: No one will criticize the military if it uses all its resources on protecting the country against foreign/domestic enemies. But the moment it steps into running the country/companies then naturally its policies will be under the scanner and it cannot escape criticism.
Shame Shame . . . .Too much greed has led these humans to Treason and selling off their country and oppressing their people in the name of democracy. . . . another sad day in the oppressed history of Pakistan under the fasade and deception of democracy. No one should wonder why Pakistani citizens are just content and feel safe under military rule . . . .One has to understand, that, it is because they have been stung many many times by the corrupt civillian government calling itself the high and mighty democracy in a country where voter turn out is very weak and small due to security issues. So, it is not the rule by the people, of the people or for the people, or not even democracy in the true sense. The corrupt leaders advocating the sale of the country's sovereignty should be labelled as traitors for their treasonous acts!
Congrats ET u have the highest number of army and ISI haters as ur bloggers :)... I never came across such ferocity against any army or or intelligence agency in any other international news paper.. But at ET army bashing is a must.... Be it ur bloggers or certain writers... Regards..
@Usman: What makes you think that the readers of ET can only read Urdu and not English? Regards, Mirza
@ksri: How can we forget!!! Get ready for the 2011 version of the same game again !!
@Anonymous: Sure, COAS can be fired. You know what happened when a COAS was fired last time.
HH should not slam down just based on the wish of army as they are after him since the day first.
This is the appropriate time for the civilian govt and the opposition to take the bull by its horns and lay a strong foundation so that no toppling takes place in future.
THE WAY THE ESTABLISHMENT and its proponents are behaving proves the fears expressed in the memos are very real.
@Anonymous: The answer to your question is plain simple NO!!! This is Pakistan we are talking about, not any Democratic Nation ! In normal democracy the elected legistative has right to demand answers and authority to fire COAS, but in Pakistan, it is the COAS that pulls all the strings on the elected body which simply are puppets. Sadly this is Democracy Pakistan Style !!
Red Warrant of Musharaf will be swaped with Haqqani's neck and top four, two from each side will get one more year's extention.
I dontt know whats the problem, even if its true all he is asking Americans is to make sure there is no coup and establish the civilian supremacy. That's what all of us pro democratic forces want.
This will last only until the media gets the next big story. People have a short memory. Now I know this won't get published!
@aamir aziz: What would you say, if it is proved that contents of the memo are correct and that the Army was sheltering OBL. Should they be punished also? What is important. Is it the truth in the memo or is it that the memo was written?
I don't understand. Even if all this is true, doesn't the president have the authority to dismiss the CoAS?
Slap on face of those who said that he would not return.
1:.Even after reading the contents of the memo written, it is nothing but naivety to presume that the contacts & network which he enjoys in US can lead to stability & survival of Pakistan. The guy’s role in OBL saga was also quite dubious. 2: His staying in US is in US’ interests and not that of Pakistan. 3.He should be charged with treason alongwith his accomplices. .
He is a traitor and should be dealt with accordingly
Give him a Polygram test (lie detection test).
Refer the matter to Supreme Court and try all responsible for treason
His offer to resign indicates a guilty conscience..
He can deny this many times
but Masoor Ijaz has already provided the Blackberry conversion to Pakistan government
Who cares about Haqqani. He was doing the job the President of Pakistan had ordered him to do.
this guy did not do anything wrong
Haqqani categorically denies his involvement. It seems he is another Rehman Malik without any Dr. Mirza staring him in the face!!!!
This memo scandal should be taken to SC
read this memo in Urdu
http://www.columnpk.com/zardaris-memo-that-was-sent-to-mike-mullen-by-mansoor-ijaz/
http://www.columnpk.com/mansoor-ijaz-history-in-urdu/
Even if the letter WAS written by Haqqani, UNDER instructions from Zardari, the military leadership wouldn't dare any adventures, the public would crucify them!
And the bashing starts..
this memo case must be taken to supreme court and Haqqani must be punished if he is involved
wat evr it may be we all want to know the reality vch should be brought n frnt of nation
When the discovery of OBL in a military base was not a threat to any general how can a piece of paper be a threat to them? Is Pakistan army and the country so weak despite most public resources? HH has proved his opponents wrong by showing that he is an educated brave man and not a general like Mush to run away.
Welcome back home.
I hope that you will be able to remove the clout.
Don’t care whether you remain as an Ambassador or not. What is more important that conscious should remain clear.