Tribune’s Gamechangers 2011: Mansoor Ijaz

Causing a political uproar.

Outspoken Mansoor Ijaz caused a stir in Pakistan when he wrote a column in a London based newspaper alleging that a Pakistani government official had asked him to deliver a controversial document to Admiral Mike Mullen requesting him to deliver a warning to the Pakistani military against a takeover.

Not only did he bring attention to the strained relationship between the military and civilian leadership in Pakistan, his allegations lead to the subsequent resignation of Pakistan’s former Ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani and a probe into the scandal by the apex court that casts doubts over the civilian government’s faith in the military.

Quote of the year: "I’m an ultra wealthy individual; I have no need for anyone else’s money. I’m not interested in hearing those kinds of allegations. Anybody that makes them, bring them in front of me and they’ll get a nice kick in their pants from my lawyers."

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly mentioned American newspaper instead of London based. The error has been rectified.