LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan said on Wednesday that his party will take legal action against the newspaper that published a report alleging that he was introduced to Ambassador Cameron Munter in the presence of the director general of the Pakistani intelligence agency.
Khan had earlier termed the report “totally fabricated and false.”
The report was published in British newspaper The Sunday Times and was also reported by local newspapers. It alleges that the PTI chief was introduced to Munter in General Shuja Pasha’s presence, adding that Khan is supported by the Pakistani intelligence agency and military. The ISPR also issued a statement earlier this week terming the story “totally baseless and concocted”.
Talking to the media at the Lahore airport today (Wednesday), the PTI chief said:
“We have written a letter to The Sunday Times. We have clearly told them if they do not retract their report we will take action against them.”
Khan also said that President Asif Ali Zardari is responsible for the memo scandal and that Pakistan's ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani should have resigned earlier as he has not been loyal to the country.
When asked about his upcoming rally in Karachi, he said that PTI will arrange a “mammoth gathering” on December 25 in Karachi.
“Right now the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Zulfiqar Mirza are on opposite sides and the people of Karachi are divided,” he said.
“I am trying to unite Pakistan… if Karachi rises, Pakistan will rise.”
PTI is planning a rally in Karachi on December 25 near the Mazar-e-Quaid. The party’s goal is to bring out a whopping 200,000 people. Party officials earlier told The Express Tribune that the December 25 rally’s theme will be ‘National Unity’ as Khan wants everyone to participate, above ethnic divides.
COMMENTS (55)
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@ amjad cheema........MUHAMMAD MALICK who is a reputed analyst and wuz present at the lahore jalsa told imran about haqqani....mr.malick has confirmed dis on tv and imran has also clarified dis numerous times.....
for all those who keep on asking how khan knew about haqqani on the 30th.....khan had an idea cuz article on 10th of october refered towards a pakistani diplomat in america whom zardari trusts....plus it wuz confirmed by MUHAMMAD MALIK who is a reputed analyst .he wuz present at the lahore jalsa..and he has confirmed dat he told imran about hussain haqqani on 30th...
@Lobster: Thanks brother. We Pakistanis should all unite. It doesnt matter if one is Urdu speaking, Pashto speaking, Punjabi speaking, Baluchi speaking, or Sindhi speaking. We all are Pakistanis and we all should unite. Other Pakistani politicial parties are trying to divide Pakistanis, but PTI is trying to unite Pakistanis. Besides, Urdu will always stay the national language of Pakistan and Imran Khan speaks Urdu more than Pashto or Punjabi, so Imran Khan is also Urdu speaking. Pakistan Zindabad.
@Anonymous: You could have googled the answer or visited PTI's website and I am sure you would have found out the truth. Anyways I would like to tell you how Imran Khan knew about it before anyone did. Imran khan mentioned Hussain Haqqani because the article was written by Mansoor Ejaz and in the first four lines of article he mentioned that a senior Pakistani diplomat had asked him to write such a memo. Mansoor Ejaz is an American and the memo was meant for American government. It was written on request of a diplomat. Who else could it be? It doesn't take a genious to put 2 and 2 together. It was obvious that it was Hussain Haqqani who dealt with American government on behalf of Pakistani President.
P.S. Please do visit PTI's website and read the whole response to the allegations there. I am sure once you read it you wont question Imran Khan's credibility.
This guy you have got to love him..Always talk's about unity and does'nt follow the usual divide and rule policy that many other political parties follow.. my first ever vote would definately go with the great khan..and about attending jalsa it's the duty of every responsible Karachiite..
It is interesting that comments by Pashtoon could be printed which says that ''The MQM better stay the hell out of the karachi rally…'' which has no argument no nothing simply dislike towards a popular party voted in by people in 9 election in the past nearly three decades and my comments which was based on logic and had substance was denied space. It clearly shows a bias, I was hoping against hope that it just may get printed, but as it happens prejudice prevailed, Thanks again for reminding that people support means nothing and what gets decided is provided with public support. thank you
If Mr.Khan believe on their Legal system, I will wait for the Court decision today is 24 Nov.11...time starts..
@Anonymous: U were sleeping last night when he clearly answered all the questions...
I think he is the best choice among all political leaders but he need to be very careful in selecting candidates for upcoming election. People are more aware now and will vote him for better change in country's policies. He would need to prove this that he was rightly voted otherwise they ll be disappointed. I hope he will not disappoint Pakistani nation as we have been betrayed many times. I wish him good luck.
The MQM better stay the hell out of the karachi rally...
IK can not keep on fooling people. Lets see & wait what happens to his chalenge to Sunday Times. Yes Mansour Ijaz artiicle was published befor but it was IK who first mentioned HH name specifically, you don't need be Einstein to figure it who asked him to do it so.
If history is a good reference then I am afraid there will be huge disruption by Pakistani Taliban and / or local mafia on 25th to fail the jalsa.
"Khan also said that President Asif Ali Zardari is responsible for the memo scandal and that Pakistan’s ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani should have resigned earlier as he has not been loyal to the country."....So if Hussain Haqqani resigns, it demystify all the knots in Hussain Haqqani story? Why not Khan talk about other parties who are equally responsible in bringing humiliation to Pakistan, if not more?
Jago karachi jago and do welcome PTI
You are the only and the last hope - its crazy but its what we feel!!
@Anonymous: My friend...the article was published on FT with the time stamp of October 10, 2011 7:58pm...plz google and you will find your answers..but i guess that might be a bit of an inconvenience as compared to bashing others (which is certainly the easiest thing to do on earth)
Imran Khan go Ahead. We are with you. Wish you all the best for PTI Jalsa. We badly need a new and fresh Pakistan
@Ikramullah wth does that prove?
@Rabia Khan: Please cast my vote to Khan of Pakistan as well if I couldn't go to Pakistan for some reasons. But I have made a plan to visit Pakistan myself on next elections insha Allah just to cast my vote to Khan.
@waseem: You should first confirm and then comment here. Imran had given all evidence to Scotland Yard. But all witnessess are in Pakistan and Scotland yard wanted to interview and investigate with the witnessess who are in Pakistan but PPP govenment never allowed Scotland Yard officials to come Pakistan and investigate those matters and interview with the witnessess. This is the reason this matter DID NOT GO ahead.
Imran Khan has cleared this so many times on tv. It s not Imran Khans fault its PPP givt. who is a obsticle. Please do not just comment here first confirm the news or information.
IK.. Wish you all the best .
Karachiites can't be compared with Lahoris. In Karachi you got Punjabis, Pastuns, Balochs, Seraikis, Mohajirs, Sindhis, Bangalis, Hazara, Memon,Bohri,Hindu; Ismaelis, Makrani, Afghans, Irani and Arabs.
In Lahore you have only Punjabis.
New Era, Inqalab and change.... people just love to use them without evening know their meanings
@ Saleem, If you think Baluchistan, FATA and many other areas are parts of Pakistan, then please visit one of these areas, you will forget Saudi Arabia and London.
Karachi! Its your time now. Don't let us down. We are pinning our hope to you people : )
i am in oman , but i will try my best to attend IK jalsa --
@ Anonymous: IK knew about Hussain Haqqani's name before 30th Oct. because it was all about common sense and was discussed by some journalists even before 30th Oct. Its something different if Omar Cheema got stuck and confused at such an instant question. Here's the link to your question. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYH4LM9rPP0&feature=youtu.be&fb_source=message
I will fly to Karachi just to attend the jalsa and then to vote for PTI inshAllah...
@Anonymous: dude the FT article written by Mansoor Ijaz was published a week before Imran khan's rally in Lahore, maybe less time on facebook and more time reading papers would have helped!
@Lobster: Its about time all of us thought like a Pakistani! God bless you.
@Anonymous who stated that: "Imran, can you justify how you got to know about Hussain Haqqani before anyone else? where else did he get his information from?"
My dear sir, Mansoor Ijaz leaked this story to the Financial Times on the 10th of October 2011 and that is the source of Imran Khan's information, (as it is for the rest of us). [We all publicily got to hear it from Imran on the 30th Oct Lahore rally]
Can you cite any other references where Imran may have mentioned the memo BEFORE the 10th of October?
Stop citing baseless and totaly fabricated 'facts' and spreading dis-information.
May ALLAH bless IK for his continous struggle. We are all with u sir...go ahead
YES. PTI should take action against The Sunday Times to snatch a lot of Pounds from the Britishers and use that in Cancer Hospital. I am with PTI.
Khan sahab see you on 25th insha-Allah!
All my support is with PTI .... Good Luck !!
Never voted before. I wish to be in Pak to vote for the first time and that is to IK. Best luck for 25th Dec
Karachites, we the Lahoris showed that we can come out to support Khan. It is your turn to prove urselves. I am anticipating even a larger rally than Lahore for Karachi is the largest city of Pakistan. Live long Pakistan!
If Imran Khan's Karachi rally succeeds than the writing is clearly on the wall - Pakistan is in for a new era InshAllah
Is this legal action going to be like the case IK was to start against Altaf Hussain or a real one ??
Me and my family in Karachi will vote for Imran Khan. To bust the myth, let me tell you I am Urdu-speaker.
The great KHAN is back. Good luck for Karachi jalsa.
I'm voting for Imran Khan and I know many that are also voting for Imran Khan.
Imran khan will do nothing against British Newspaper for one very simple reason which is that I do not thing newspaper publish anything that did not exist at all, it exists that is why news got space in British newspaper and they must have done homework before bring it to the public. If PTI term the news fabricated and false actually it is an attempt to portray themselves as an innocent which they are not. Second important thing Imran khan is being supported by so called independent media otherwise he never represent people who really looking for dynamic political party which empower them to enjoy their basic rights but it represent conservative constituency.
Way to go IK ...
Best of luck for karachi jalsa, People of pak are with u .
In a confused nation like Pakistan , the word 'intelligence agency' has become scapegoat for all ills of society. If you need to see the strength of what real intelligence agencies are like, you should look to London , Saudi or many other countries. These two I mentioned as I have travelled there. In these countries you can only do whatever they allow you to do. If you go astray , they will find you and nab you within few days. They are literally keeping tab on calls , meetings , online activity of citizens. In comparison , the intelligence agencies in Pakistan is just a 'ghost' word. Assuming the truth in above report, even if they support some party , I doubt that it can bring any real difference.
he hope he doesn't take another 'U turn' on this filing a case against the newspaper. in about 2 weeks everyone will forget the news. and no one will be dare to ask what happen to that 'challenging the newspaper'.
off-course we remember what happen when he file(or did he?) a case against MQM and then nothnig happened so far?
That's how you counter an allegation! So long Hussain Haqqani!
I am with you Khan sahab in Karachi!! All Karachite are requested to pls. come out of their homes in peaceful manner on Dec, the 25th, in support of PTI & Pakistan!
Good Luck on 25th.