Explanation sought on Mullen memo: Gilani
November 18th, 2011 - 5:08 pm ICT by IANS
Islamabad, Nov 18 (IANS) Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that he sought explanation from the country’s envoy to the US after a secret memo to Washington claimed that President Asif Ali Zardari had feared a military coup.
Husain Haqqani, Pakistan’s ambassador to the US, has meanwhile offered to resign after being linked to the memo.
Gilani told the National Assembly Friday that Haqqani has been asked to explain his position, Geo News reported.
Pakistani businessman Mansoor Ijaz alleged in a column in the Financial Times last month that a senior Pakistani diplomat asked for help in getting a message from Zardari to then chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen.
Ijaz alleged that Zardari feared a military takeover following the US raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in May and brought unprecedented public scrutiny on Pakistani leaders.
“The ISI is our institution and it would be defended. Friendship with the US should be in a respectful manner,” Geo News quoted Gilani as saying.
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- Husain Haqqani heads for Pakistan - Nov 19, 2011
- Haqqani ready to face memo probe, mulls legal action - Nov 21, 2011
- Memo scandal: Court dismisses plea against Mansoor Ijaz - Jan 18, 2012
- Mullen confirms Zardari feared military coup - Nov 17, 2011
- Sherry Rehman appointed Pakistan's envoy to US - Nov 23, 2011
- Probe into memo will be made public: minister - Nov 24, 2011
- Threat call for Mansoor Ijaz's daughter - Mar 14, 2012
- Zardari instucted Haqqani on memo: Ijaz - Feb 23, 2012
- Pakistani official to meet Ijaz in London - Feb 19, 2012
- BlackBerry phones of Haqqani, Ijaz to be tested - May 10, 2012
- I am only answerable to parliament: Gilani - Jan 16, 2012
- Zardari 'will respect' parliament probe in memo scandal - Jan 07, 2012
- Provide security to Mansoor Ijaz: Pakistan judicial panel - Jan 24, 2012
- Zardari, Gilani, Kayani discuss secret memo to US - Nov 17, 2011
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