ISI DG has all the evidence: Mansoor Ijaz
Speaking exclusively in Express News’ show Baat-say-Baat, Ijaz claimed to have met General Pasha in London and provided him evidence regarding the secret memo allegedly dictated by Hussain Haqqani.
He said it was irrefutable evidence since he gave Pasha telephone records and Haqqani’s BlackBerry pin code.
Ijaz also ruled out reports that there was some understanding between President Asif Ali Zardari and Ambassador Haqqani regarding the memo, saying the president had no knowledge of any such document.
He claimed that Zardari might have spoken to Haqqani after the May 2 raid about the pressure on him, hence asking the latter to help him out.
Ijaz hit out at the ambassador on challenging the authenticity of the memo and ruled out any missing links in the authenticity chain. He said that he was an “ultra wealthy” individual who handles his own investments and would sue anyone for slandering against him using the best of lawyers from London, New York and Switzerland.
Earlier, Ijaz had claimed in an article published in the Financial Times that on President Zardari’s instructions and with the help of a top diplomat, he had drafted and delivered a memo to Admiral Mullen calling for his help in supporting President Zardari in case of a military coup.
The full interview will air on both Express News and Express 24/7 at 7pm on Monday.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2011.
COMMENTS (60)
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@Truth Seeker:
No one would believe it...
Ijaz seems to have a clash with Haqqani and has made a good attempt to slander his image. I am a neutral person (and don't like Haqqani either) but I believe Ijaz is a liar (look at his track record), in search of publicity. He is rich but wants to remain in the lime light or teach Haqqani a lesson on some personal issue. Don't trust him. I wonder how America had entrusted him with such responsible positions.
Another trap of america. we should be very careful.
I can recall a similar episode. Javed Hashmi (PML-N), in a press conference on 20 October 2003, had read a letter that he received in mail, signed anonymously by some active military officers at GHQ, calling for an investigation into the corruption in the armed forces and criticizing Chief of Army Staff General Pervez Musharraf, and his relationship with the American President George W. Bush. He was arrested and his trial was held in the central Adiala Jail instead of a district and sessions court at the Lahore High Court, which raised doubts about its fairness. On 12 April 2004, he was sentenced to 23 years in prison for inciting mutiny in the army, forgery, and defamation. On 2011, entire raucous has been created due to a US businessman’s claim regarding an anonymous memo published by him in the US newspaper and reportedly authorised by our Civilian Ambassador. Surprisingly, everyone has started to believe its authenticity without any investigation or solid proof. When US raided OBL camp inside Pakistan and our forces failed to protect our borders, neither our Army Chief nor our Air Force Chief resigned out of shame. Why would anyone write a memo to seek help in saving the government from military takeover when the people responsible for failure to protect the borders are Services Chiefs and not the Prime Minister or President of Pakistan?
One big head is going to roll due to this memogate.
@Iqbal: Friends ??? Sir, this nincompoop has time and time again maligned Pakistan as much as he can. He has literally abused the Pakistan armed forces on American media. And suddenly he has become a well wisher of the Pakistan Army. This man is just desperate to land himself a spot in the US establishment which i gather from his intelligence is not going to happen, it hasn't happened in the past. Plus he's and American national. One of those people who are ashamed of their heritage and therefore would go out of their way to prove their loyalty to USA by abusing Pakistan even more than usual.
Although no fan of Haqqani, this Mansoor Ijaz is a higly dubious character. What hope of truth can we expect from a man who shamelessly brags that he is an 'ultra wealthy' man. It's clear he is seeking attention. I've seen his interviews and he is an American stooge who has let no opportunity go by in the past to malign Pakistan. No wonder he only finds place to air his worthless non-opinions on a channel like Fox News. You still won't be able to make any place in Washington power circles Mr. Ijaz
How would Ijaz know what Zardari knew, this guy is now trying to hedge his bets
We love our ISI. the hardest most fiercest line of defence of Pakistan
@Haters you should know by now it DOESN''T MATTER what you think or say. I.S.I is doing its job while you sitting in your parents home infront of computer talks cheap of ISI.
Keep trying
@Nadir: missing people are not as important as American Sponsored Coup
If there can be "good" Haqqani (Hussain) and "bad" Haqqani (Sirajuddin) then why can't there be good Taliban and bad Taliban?
Haqqani is culprit all the way. He has been lota in the past. He has history of making fool of these dump politicians time and again. He rose by throwing poison against Zia Ul Haq to PPP and later Gen Mushraff. Hussain Haqqani has shown his core value as traitor and dishonest human. He should be ashamed of this act of treason along with his patron. True indeed, that at this stage only Army or ISI seems to be savior as PM is too coward and spineless. Perhaps history and Pakistani nation will never forget these shameless traitors. May Almighty save Pakistan from such traitors and absolutely disgraceful rulers.
@Babloo: It is called lost in translation.
Compare this with the news above and with the footage of above news and note the contradiction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bI4L5zgZQ0
@Jameel: Furthermore what sources did DG Pasha use in a third country? Did he use MI6 which Pakistanis believe to be plotting against their nation? How can Mansoor Ijaz ask Pasha to come to London and do this for him? The memo was already delivered to Mullen therefore the letter which Ijaz showed to Pasha is at best a copy. Has anyone considered this? This all a strange happening and must discredit the current Pakistan government. Do not trust ISI because it will do anything to keep itself in power.
@It Is Economy Stupid: Your comments are quite fair. BTW do something about your name. It's lame. Old American loyalties? Melancholy? Reminiscences ? Come over it.
What a joker this Mansoor Ijaz is! With friends like these, who needs enemies?
@Mirza: Nothing prompted Ijaz, in a bipolar world of hypocrites every one is playing his/her perfect role.
DG ISI flying to London to inspect evidence which could incriminate democratically elected head of state and head of government without alerting them? Is this appropriate on his part? Or are we missing something?
@faraz:
"What’s funny is that the ISI chief met the same person who in his Financial Times article stated that ISI is a rogue organization and should be dismantled."
Great observation! That really tells us something doesn't it? That This shady character Ijaz is probably a double agent.
crucial time in Pakistani politics..
I guess testing "forensically" of this memo is more important and urgent then "forensically" testing why OBL was found in military's bosom, eh?
In my opinion this was a sting op by IM and some vested interests to get rid of HH and possibly AZ and they nearly succeded. Its probably not gonna work cos' AZ is too crafty and slimy. It tells us one thing for sure that the polits so much hated by ordinary pakistanis are ready to take on the so called powerful Generals who have not only lost 1965, 1971, Siachen and Kargil wars but also failed to protect the sanctity and sovereignty of the Land of the Pure.
So if Pasha was in the US trying to find if Zardari or Haqqani was guilty without Zardari's permission, isn't that high treason??
becarefull of haqani networks b in waziristan or washington
Haqani should be fired just for associating with this Ijaz fellow, for lack of judgement since this Ijaz fellow has such a shady crooked past
@Babloo: Very funny indeed!
@Nadir: Cannot agree more.
Just when i thought no one could beat Ekta Kapoor in scripting dramatic dramas, well Pakistani comes up with this great show. Sometimes i feel entire pakistani is a 24x7 reality TV show, something like big-boss. I mean a lot of interetsting and entertaining news comes out of this country. Keep itentertaining...
Mansoor Ijaz usually targets ISI for its alleged involvement in terrorist activities. I hope Gen Pasha has tested those evidences forensically too.
America is fed up and wants to punish Pakistan, but they have never attacked a democratic country before, therefore they want to remove this government first. Once democracy is killed by Pak Army, it will be very easy for Americans to wage war. Hope Generals know how Americans created the same situation against Iraq before first Gulf war.
Hold it guys before you go to town with M. Haqqani. Let’s put the whole thing in perspective, OBL found in Pakistan is a black day for Pakistani Army. Mr. Haqqani was the one in front of the US media everyday and answering tough questions, providing good answers and saving the same Mr. Pasha’s (forensic testing of memo but not OBL shows his priority) and Kayani’s mistakes or failure. Whatever, Mr. Haqqani did as an ambassador of the country in trouble times was a justified act to deflect the criticism. In my book Mr. Haqqani is a true Patriot and job well done for which he was selected for. Rest of those who did not face American media for days, please do not double guess Mr. Haqqani. You were not there and he should not be punished for the job well done. Stop and think what is a big deal memo or OBL episode. History will treat Mr. Haqqani very well.
Mansoor Ijaz is against Pakistan Nuclear Deterrence. (Fox News 2007) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtRLTrEg-aE&feature=channelvideotitle
Talc power dusting and all? Inspector Clouseau in London? You don't say?! Does ur Rapoutoor Byte??
@naeem there's military industrial complex control over US govt also. I miss Bhutto now. If she was alive things wouldn't have been this worse. This civilian govt is an American installed govt with fake public mandate. I don't give it a damn that this is a civilian democracy. It's not one
@Nasim:
".........if DG ISI was satisfied with the evidence......"
So you believe everything the ISI says as the real truth?
@Aamir Mughal: Army and ISI are the "rightful owners" of Paksitan and they can do anything they like and get away with. Splitting the country, surrendring Kargil, selling WMD, throwing judges in jail, and committing multiple acts of high treason are all allowed and tolerated without any shame. Being in bed with OBL is nothing new or unusual for our ISI. Thanks and regards, Mirza
USA wanted Pakistan to attack and dismantle Haqanni network in Waziristan instead Pakistan army has attacked and dismantled the Haqanni network in Washington. What an irony. Just substitute Washington for Waziristan.
What’s funny is that the ISI chief met the same person who in his Financial Times article stated that ISI is a rogue organization and should be dismantled.
@Truth Seeker: Very well said indeed!
Not a fan of Haqqani, but it would be worst if he is sacked on evidence from Mansoor Ijaz. Ijaz has severely and openly criticized Pakistan Army more than once. ISI become super active to trace politicians, but when it comes to real terrorists, it has no clue at all.
Establishment is thinking out of the box...
i have a feeling that AZ is in defiant mood.....and come what may would not ask Haqani to leave....he wants his 'enemies' to go to judiciary......he knows there he can bring many other things on record......i see a window opening to bring in supremacy of civilians over army in Pakistan.....
Should we believe this as well: WikiLeaks: ISI chief met Israelis to stop India attack By Reuters Published: December 1, 2010 http://tribune.com.pk/story/84508/wikileaks-isi-chief-met-israelis-to-stop-india-attack/
What are Mansoor Ijaz Thoughts for Pakistan are quite interesting for those who think that they are ideological and Tarritorial defenders of Pakistan and paying heed to Mansoor's alleged Memo and if they are giving the memo so much importance then should read this:-
"QUOTE"
A rescue plan for Pakistan Without bold, urgent action, the country – and its nuclear weapons – could fall to the Taliban. By Mansoor Ijaz / April 24, 2009 Mansoor Ijaz, an American of Pakistani descent, is a venture capitalist and financier. link text
"UNQUOTE"
According to Ijaz he handed over the memo to American general knowing full well that it was against Pakistan army. At the same time he kept all the proofs that HH was involved and handed them over to General Pasha. In other words he was not honest to anybody including US general, HH, or the ISI. In addition he first said that it was coming from Zardari now he changed his statement again. Why would HH trust such a person who is not respected by Pakistani Americans for his shady character and changing loyalties? The question is why was Ijaz involved in such a vicious circle that severed nobody and only made Pakistan weak and a laughing stock of the world once again? What prompted Ijaz to be a part of drafting this memo and what made him tell the story to the press at this time?
Having watched on the local TV screens and read almost all statements of Mansoor Ijaz in the local print media, I am of the opinion that Mansoor Ijaz wants the President Asif Ali Zardari should fir Ambassador Haqqani from the job.
Does Mansoor Ijaz himself want to be nominated as Pakistan’s Ambassador in US, or he wants the present civilian setup to be disturbed through a military coup and possibly paving the way for General Musharraf to take over and form an interim government to rule the country.
The memo controversy has started after the visit of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Islamabad and a push from the US Administration to Government of Pakistan to wage a war against the Haqqani net work in Pakistan.
The question arises: why Mansoor Ijaz wants to be in limelight of Pakistani media? Why he is pursuing the memo case so rigorously? He seems to have ulterior motives against the present civilian and military set up.
The national leadership of Pakistan should very minutely study the case to determine as what Mansoor Ijaz wants from Pakistan? Did Ambassador Haqqani took some money from him and have not returned the same? This is not the case. The case is some thing else, which the Pakistani nation should try to find out.
Ijaz claims to be an ultra wealthy man, who will sue anyone using best lawyers in US, well he will be getting the oppurtunity pretty soon.
This guy makes absolutely no sense, why would he write a letter on behalf of Pakistan, which is unsigned to Mullen, when Pakistan government can directly approach the US Ambassador and have the message sent.
Than why would this man write an oped piece to blow the cover that he has. Seems like he was probably trying to get money out of Haqani after setting him up. Pretty sure the US government will have its own investigation, especially when Ijaz admits to writing a letter on behalf of a foreign government without registering as a foregin agent. Or he probably will be investigated for meeting foregin intelligence agents which is treason under US criminal code. Good luck Mr. Ulta wealthy man. See if your wealth helps you when the real investigations start,
Forensically tested evidence must be good and I believe Mansoor Ijaz is quite credible in this regard. My doubts are only concerning OBL's forensic evidence where this whole matter lead to that has caused this nation to become rogue in its entirety from cricket, contracts, defense, judiciary to the politics you name it and find everywhere disloyalty, selfishness, betrayal and treason. Haqqani should be tried if true and all those involved in sheltering OBL and 1999-coup de’tat must also be tried for treason for a change. Is it not a fair deal! Let’s deal fairly and squarely this time at least.
So DG ISI is judge, jury and executioner? And how exactly can you "forensicly check a memo"? Pakistani citizens have a hard time getting access to DG ISI to trace their missing relatives, and a US citizens gets his account corrobarated by our intelligence cheif who travelled to London to meet him?
Is General Pasha forensic expert? Why did he fly himself over to Europe? Is he too concerned of the outcome?
This is getting murkier and interesting by the reports coming out. DG ISI must have his own methods of testing forensic evidence. The cat is out of the bag and in the know of the GOP with the evaluation and inference of the evidence
Heads must roll to bring sanity or its semblance in our dear Pakistansi' daily existence. The time is now and not many years later when citizens will be able to extract public documents for viewing. Why now? Because events are moving fast and the electorate is not ignorant as the know-it-alls think. Too much is being lost in support of the electorate by keeping facts from them.
No more 'biradari,' jirgas and tribal loyalties to save the name of ignominious persons who are being protected all the time. Hard and painful decisions they will be but the time is now and not tomorrow. To quote:
"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor"………...Bishop Desmond Tutu (1931) Nobel Prize for Peace 1984
Salams to beloved Pakistan
Think.. everyone should get to work now. As government of Pakistan has many other pressing issues to focus on. And we should learn one lesson from this memo saga that wiithout civillian supremacy in our country we would be in eye of storm every now and then. perhaps because the generals are not ready to accept that it is illegitimate to have millitary supremacy anywhere in the world!
If the DG ISI has forensically tested Memo evidence (including the BB Msgs, Memo draft copies or any voice recordings) provided by Mr. Mansoor Ijaz in London , if DG ISI was satisfied with the evidence and reported it to Army Chief that the evidence is concrete and true, then I have no problem in saying its Good Bye for Mr. Haqqan and many others also!!!
American citizen (Ijaz) having access to American Commander(Mullen) who is also family friend of Pakistani ambassador(Haqqani), invites Pakistani ISI chief (Pasha) in London to verify the forensic evidence about the culpability of the accused( Pakistani president/ambassador or both) is a script dropped from heavens for a box office hit by Hollywood. This can only happen in Pakistan (thumping chest for their uncompromising honour and dignity) where President of Pakistan writes letter to USA as described in today's article by Kamran Shafi. What else one can say except May Allah (if He deems fit) help Pakistanis as they don't want to help themselves.
Haqqani is sure shot doomed but million dollar question is would he fall alone?
One thing is clear that memo controversy is not something 'Made in Pakistan'. Something big is about to happen even if some pillars do not collapse.
This Masoor Ijaz seems a funny character. Our government is also not confident about their team as they have appointed controversial figures in every area to add miserly to PPP led government. PPP failed due to wrong selection of people on key posts.