The apex court has also formed a parallel high-level judicial commission to probe the memo controversy, which has created a semblance of confrontation between the government and the judiciary.
Speaking during a television interview, however, the president said that the government was not at war with the judiciary or the military. He believed that the Memogate scandal was blown out of proportion by people ‘who want to destabilise the country’.
In the wide-ranging interview, Zardari said that Husain Haqqani, then Pakistani ambassador in Washington, might have met Mansoor Ijaz, the central character in the memo row, because it was part of Haqqani’s responsibilities to develop contacts with influential people in the US.
He added that the government did not take legal action on the basis of Ijaz’s article in the Financial Times because doing so would have been against the “national interest”.
President Zardari said that most PPP leaders believe that the government should not write a letter to the Swiss authorities requesting reopening of graft cases against him. The Supreme Court has given the government one week to implement its verdict on the defunct National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) and reopen cases against all irrespective of their political offices.
However, the President said that writing a letter to the Swiss authorities would be tantamount to putting the grave of his slain wife Benazir Bhutto on trial. He added that after the expiry of his term, anybody could put him on trial.
About Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf, President Zardari said that his government did not try the former military ruler because his trial would have demoralised the armed forces of Pakistan. However, he added that, if needed, Parliament would put him on trial.
He said that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had referred to Musharraf when he said that the slain al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was in Pakistan without a visa.
When asked about media reports that Indus Airlines was owned by his sister, the President said the licence of this new airline should be cancelled. He added that his sister has dedicated her life to politics.
About the reports of early parliamentary elections, Zardari said that he was ready to discuss with the opposition all issues, including early elections.
Meeting with coalition
Elections did come under discussion during a meeting of parliamentary heads of parties in the ruling coalition called by President Zardari to take them into confidence over the issue.
Some of the meeting’s participants revealed that there was broad-based agreement at the meeting that the next general elections should be held soon after the next budget.
“We want the government to present its last budget this June,” said the leader of a coalition party. “General elections are likely to be held around October 2011. The schedule can come before or immediately after the new budget.”
Sources added that after last few months’ political turbulence, the president appeared visibly relieved on Friday’s meeting, and was appreciative of Nawaz Sharif’s recent gestures of support for the incumbent system.
Senate polls
Parties in the ruling coalition decided to field ‘consensus candidates’ and amicably allocate seats to each other in the Senate, in accordance with to their respective numerical strengths in provincial assemblies. Parties in the opposition have also been approached to convince them to adopt this procedure, sources added.
Participants of the meeting said that no date was decided for Senate polls, but added that they could take place anytime between February 12 and March 11. “We will have no issue over the timing,” one of the participants said.
Sources say the ruling PPP wants to cross the poll milestone as soon as possible but Senate elections cannot be held before February 12, due to constitutional bars.
Resolving differences
Bringing quarreling coalition partners close was also on the agenda.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Awami National Party (ANP) have been recently sparring over creation of new provinces.
“One of the reasons for convening this meeting was to bring ANP and MQM on the table,” said a PPP leader.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2012.
COMMENTS (25)
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If we assume that Mr Ijaz is accurate in his assertion that a memo was written and sent to Mr Mullen and the intent was to thwart a coup by the military, then there was nothing foul about it. The idea was to make sure that the major stakeholder is on board with the idea of continued civilian rule. If the recipient of the memo had been the king of Saudi Arabia instead of the US, there would have been zero reaction. A point to note, however, is that Saudi Arabia and other countries are stakeholders as well and have direct involvement in Pakistan’s internal affairs. Would the television anchors and opposition parties have done their chest thumping exercises of sovereignty and its violation? Perhaps not. A grim reminder, then, that Saudi Arabia is considered a ‘friendly nation’.
Zardari needs to put Musharraf to trail. It ridiculous that he does not want to demoralize the armed forces. When someone from the armed forces does something wrong he needs to be punished just like ZABhutto was considered a civilian and not above the law. I hope the PPP government have some sense and try Musharraf
October 2011 ?
"Zardari breaks silence: ‘Govt will accept parliamentary panel’s findings on memo’"
Implying thereby that the Govt will reject the SC Findings on memo?
One mans "weakened' is another mans "crisis"
Of course Zardari is mixing up Dubai's metro with Pakistan Railways..
Good one Mr. President.
This is the way to handle the troubles and problems. If the decision goes against the interest , then so what . It will be accepted for the sake of respect to the party.
Now in Pakistan, not important "Rotti, kupra, makan" if govenemnt guranteed on Law n Order situation, I am 100% sure that automatically all things are in hand of Pakistani peoples. Dollar not important, pakistan and pakistani peoples are important. Save Pakistan, Save Pakistani Image. Pakistan Zindabad...
It means that YOUR DEMOCRATIC GOVt will go AGAINST YOU ???
I can't believe some naive people above still believe what the US administration is feeding them. Americans are starting to wake up to realities and now challenging the lies the government throws at them. and people still think some real action occurred in Abbotabad.
you got the wrong choice, instead of staying and relying on your people you went to invite an imperialist power. that's your wrong footing. Rely on people like Bhutto
.
@imran dear you must realise that no one can give Pakistan food water gas eltc,it is a poor country with very low literacy Evey one is corrupt ,the whole society Is deluded all Pakistanis have to share the blame not just zardari you will know the worth of zardari only after he has been hounded out by people like you and establishment or may be suddenly everyone will become honest and rich
@Imran
Well said. Reminds me of when his deceased wife promised motorways when every "muzdoor" had a sports car. In other words she meant.... never.
Zardari has single handedly managed to do what Zia, Nawaz Sharif and Musharraf could not do over last 3-4 decades - completely demolish the myth that PPP could and would solve the problems facing the common man in Pakistan.
Zardari is living on planet Mars.. He said in his next tenture of 4 years he wants to give the people "roti, kapra and makan"! Lol this must be the funniest joke of 2012! What about the first 4 years of his presidency? Hes given pakistanis .. No water, no gas, no electric, expensive roti's, expensive clothes, no makans, no law n order, massive corruption, massive cut in education budget! The list is endlesss !!
Which world does the President live in?? What is he talking about? One only needs to look at the state of industries in public sectors, to realise that they are in terminal decline with huge pronlems.
Very simple question which a child of 6 years can answer, its just nit possible for obl to hide there without connivance of aabpara industry.
That's the end of this obedient government. The establishment will not find such an obedient and prone to compliance government in future!!
its NOT Gillani who should answer that question! its ISI who should answer HOW OBL was living in pakistan for 5/6 years?
don't blame zardari ,blame incompetent Army sou moto please CJ
The more things the government owns and directs the more those things fail. There is a reason that nations progress. It is the rule of law and free markets.
Zardari seems to be living in cloud cuckoo land, rather than Pakistan.
It's already 3 months tot the scandal now.. Need an outcome, sooner the better. We all know who is behind it, so lets see the black sheep.... Can;t hardly wait for the truth to be out and all those involved to be tried for treason...
It's the question the entire World is asking. Why not spend a little time answering the question rather than hounding the questioner. Pakistan may have collective amnesia when it comes to OBL - the rest of the World doesn't.
The news says "Opposition parties accused Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani of unfairly criticising the military recently by asking how bin Laden managed to escape detection in Pakistan for several years." This is the only question that should have been asked and answered by ISI. At best they failed miserably and at worst they were protecting OBL. The Abbottabad Commission needs to answer only this question and not unrelated matters. The answer to this question would save Pakistan from further humiliation. Let us hope that we do the right thing and finally tell the truth. Otherwise we are accepting the US version of events. What are we afraid of, what are we trying to hide?
Let us wait and see the findings of Supreme Court of Pakistan in the memo-scandal case before forming any opinion.