The Judicial Commission on the memo scandal in Pakistan has submitted its report to the Supreme Court. The report states that the former ambassador had authored the controversial memo to Admiral Mike Mullen. The court also ordered Husain Haqqani to be present in the next hearing.

The report claimed that the motive of the memo was to present Pakistan’s civilian government as Pro-US and that only it can put breaks on the nations expanding nuclear program. Moreover, Haqqani desired to constitute a new security team, which he wanted to head. The report criticized Haqqani for being on the payroll of Pakistan while his loyalties were with the US.

The report was put forwarded on the same day black mailing allegations were personally made by business tycoon Malik Riaz against the son of Chief Justice, who is heading the memo commission.

The post Commission Report: Husain Haqqani Authored The Memo appeared first on Politact.

The post PM Gilani’s Appeal Dismissed By Pakistan’s Supreme Court appeared first on Politact.

The judicial commission set up to investigate the Memogate scandal has given a last chance to Mansoor Ijaz to record his statement, summoning him again on February 9.
Justice Qazi Faez Isa, who is heading the commission, said the commission will not travel abroad. The commission will request Supreme Court to extend the deadline by 4 weeks to finish the probe.

Ijaz is one of the central characters of the Memogate scandal, and has twice declined from coming to Pakistan citing security issues.

The post Pakistan’s Supreme Court Gives Mansoor Ijaz A Final Chance appeared first on Politact.

PM Gilani has retracted his allegation that statements submitted by DG ISI and army chief, to the Supreme Court in the Memogate scandal, were illegal or unconstitutional. On January 10, Gilani stated that the submissions made to the SC by DG ISI and army chief bypassed competent authorities and thus were unlawful and unconstitutional.

He was speaking to the media at Chaklala airport on Wednesday before heading to the World Economic Forum. PM Gilani further said that the allegation was made in the context of a particular situation. However, it’s of no importance now and differences in this regard have been ironed out.

The post PM Gilani Retracts Allegations Against Army Chief And DG ISI appeared first on Politact.

Pakistan’s federal law minister has refuted reports that he has resigned from his post, to be replaced by his predecessor, Babar Awan. He said he has not resigned, neither has he been asked to do so. He said he will appear alongside the prime minister in Supreme Court on Jan 19.

Leader of the House, Nayar Bokhari had stated earlier that Chandio had tendered his resignation and thus was no longer the law minister. Senior PPP leader also hinted that Awan might be reappointed the law minister. If Awan is reappointed, it would amount to another defiance of Supreme Court, since his license was temporarily suspended for contempt of court earlier today.

Meanwhile, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsen was engaged on Tuesday by Pakistan Peoples Party to defend PM Gilani who has been issued a contempt of court notification by the Supreme Court. PM Gilani has been summoned to appear before the court on January 19.

The post Pakistan Peoples Party Reshuffling Its Legal Team appeared first on Politact.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has dismissed the defense Secretary Naeem Khalid Lodhi for being the cause of ‘misunderstanding’ between the military and the civilian government. Gilani accused the army and intelligence chiefs of not submitting their replies to the Supreme Court inquiry commission on the Memogate issue, through government channels. He called the actions illegal and unconstitutional.

Pakistan’s army has responded to PM Gilani’s accusation, saying it will have grievous ramifications for the country. In a statement on Wednesday it’s army stated, “There can be no allegation more serious than what the honorable prime minister has leveled against COAS General Ashfaq Kayani and DG ISI Lieutenant General Ahmad Shuja Pasha and has unfortunately charged the officers for violation of the constitution of the country”.

The army also denied the allegation leveled by PM Gilani saying their responses passed through the defense secretary to the court in accordance with the law. The statement added that Gilani had issued a press release last month apparently approving the army’s replies to the court as being made “through proper channel”. The statement also defended submissions as the military’s obligation to “state the facts”.

The post Pakistan Army Chief: Prime Minister’s Accusations To Have Serious Consequences appeared first on Politact.

Commenting on the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) verdict, Pakistan’s Supreme Courts Justice Asif Saeed Khosa has remarked that despite clear court orders, government and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) were not serious about implementing them. He said the apex court has given the deadline of Jan 16 for the government to implement the NRO verdict; otherwise it would be forced to take ‘unpleasant’ actions. In case the government fails to implement its decisions on NRO, the court outlines six options for future course of action.

He said the court was disappointed that the government had not implemented its verdict on the NRO. He further said that the NAB chairman deliberately avoided action against Malik Qayyum and Adnan Khwaja. He said President has publicly refused to accept SC’s order and that prime minister and law minster has violated their oath of office and could be declared ineligible for their posts.

The post Pakistan’s Supreme Court Warns The Government For Failing To Implement NRO Verdict appeared first on Politact.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has stated that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and DG ISI Ahmed Shuja Pasha’s statements to the Supreme Court were not approved by the government. These statements were made in connection to the Memogate controversy.

He said that any official action by a government functionary without the prior approval of the government was unconstitutional and illegal. He added that the Ministry of Defense neither initiated any approval process, nor any approval was sought from it.

The statement from the Prime Minister is likely to further aggravate the civil-military tensions in Pakistan.

The post General Kiyani and DG ISI Statements Not Approved By The Government appeared first on Politact.

Pakistan’s Supreme Court announced on Friday that the petitions for the judicial inquiry into the Memogate scandal are maintainable. The court has established a judicial commission to investigate the issue with in four weeks. According to the decision, the earlier order of not letting Husain Haqqani to leave the country shall remain intact.

During the hearings, petitioner Ishaq Dar of PML-N appeared before the court and adopted arguments of Rashid A. Rizvi while Asma Jehangir said the petitions were vague and based on hypothesis. The Federation, President, General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt. General Shuja Pasha, and many others including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were made respondents in the petitions.

Mixed reaction followed Supreme Courts rulings. Asma Jehangir called it a black day while Ishaq Dar welcomed the decision. On the other hand, the Parliamentary Committee on National Security that is also investigating the Memogate scandal, held its session on Friday under Senator Raza Rabbani. The committee has summoned former Ambassador Husain Haqqani, DG ISI Lt. General Shuja Pasha, and US businessman of Pakistan origin Mansoor Ijaz.

The post Inter-Institutional Tussles Intensify In Pakistan As SC Orders Judicial Inquiry appeared first on Politact.

According to media sources, Pakistan army wants President Zardari to quit. An army source informs it would refrain from taking clandestine actions or coup, as it could have national and international repercussions. Gen Kiyani has demanded the Supreme Court of Pakistan to hold serious investigation into the matter and punish all those involved.

The memo scandal has worsened the tension between Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership. Still, the analysts believe that the power rests with the army. It can force Zardari to step down especially if he is found guilty in the Memogate scandal.

The post Pakistan Army Wants Zardari To Quit appeared first on Politact.