The Memo Politics and Zardari's Answer

hanibal · November 19, 2011, 2:36pm

Re: The Memo Politics and Zardari's Answer

^^ Let see what comes out of the bag, seems like Army is pissed off on Zardari who have accused Haqani of everything saying, Hussain Haqani was looking for position of defense adviser so he did all this...remember there was no name of Zardari on the memo...

hanibal · November 20, 2011, 6:26am

Re: The Memo Politics and Zardari's Answer

And now they call Mansoor Ijaz Ahmadi!!!

On some news channel the ticker played that Mansoor Ijaz is Ahmadi, i mean to prove him liar is it necessary to label him Ahmadi, what if he is Wahabi, Sunni or Shia or something like that, then he'll be considered right???

PPP Govt i guess has panicked, they shouldn't have, but they have and now things are going to get more dirty...

There was easy way out of this, if all things are false, if no memo was sent if Mansoor Ijaz is lying, if Hussain Haqani and Zardari never did any thing like that, then the best thing was, file defamation case against Mansoor Ijaz in US and UK... but nothing of that sort happened... i wonder why???

hanibal · November 20, 2011, 7:44am

Re: The Memo Politics and Zardari’s Answer

And things are getting interesting by every hour, the article got published some time in early october, on 20 October, the SPY-MASTER, chief of ISI himself met Mansoor Ijaz

[TABLE=“width: 100%, align: center”]

DG ISI met Mansoor Ijaz in London

Updated at: 1218 PST, Sunday, November 20, 2011
ISLAMABAD: The identity of the mystery government official whom American businessman Mansoor Ijaz claimed to have met in a European city and shared his trough of forensic communication data with, has remained a key missing link in the memo-authenticity-chain. Mansoor had also said that the gentleman was not a parliamentarian or a political personality. And he was right. According to highly classified information obtained by The News, the mystery caller was none other than the Director General ISI, Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha.

It was revealed that owing to the sensitivity of the charges levelled by Mansoor, including the alleged authorisation of the controversial memo by President Zardari, it was decided at the highest level of the military leadership that the initial investigation must be carried out by the top spymaster himself.

When asked by The News to confirm whether the official who met him on Oct 22 was the ISI chief Lt General Ahmed Shuja Pasha himself, Mansoor Ijaz simply said: ‘Yes.’ He has been saying in several statements in the last few days that the full data and evidence was given to the official including records of phone calls, SMS messages, BBM chat exchanges, emails etc. According to details, the meeting took place on the eve of October 22, in a Park Lane Intercontinental hotel room in London. The meeting is said to have started around 6:30pm and lasted for over four hours. The News has learnt that during the meeting, Mansoor Ijaz was exhaustively grilled over his claims and that Mansoor handed a fairly large quantity of records, both copies and originals.

The records were subsequently put through a verification process and once the DG ISI was convinced about their authenticity, he then briefed the army chief who ultimately discussed the matter in his one-on-one meeting with President Zardari on November 15. The COAS, according to a highly informed insider, had impressed upon the president the inevitable necessity of Ambassador Haqqani’s presence in the country to explain his alleged role in the memo controversy.

After the Zardari-Kayani meeting, the Presidency announced the summoning of Ambassador Haqqani to explain his position to the “national leadership”, and not just the political leadership. According to sources, the president had been fairly confident about stubbing out the matter for good in his one-on-one huddle but the outcome was not entirely to his satisfaction. Not surprisingly, in the later half of the same day, the trouble-shooter prime minister called up COAS Kayani and set up a meeting of the troika for the very next day (Nov 16). The PM, known for not harbouring any exceptional love for the beleaguered envoy, also thundered on the floor of the house that “Ambassador or no ambassador, he will have to come and explain his position.” Husain Haqqani was not available for his version on this report as he was on a flight from Washington to Islamabad.

All this happened in a dizzyingly fast changing political environment, where only hours earlier the Presidency had contemptuously dismissed the claims of Mansoor Ijaz while shrugging him off as a man of dubious credentials. What had really caused this paradigm change in the earlier recalcitrant official attitude is another revelation, made to The News.

The media may have been huffing and puffing with half truths and whole lies, dealing with an all-claiming Mansoor on one side and an all-denying combine of Haqqani- the Presidency-FO-everyone official on the other, and opposition politicians too may have been adding their voices to the slowly growing cacophony of those demanding an investigation into the matter, but these factors did not play the decisive role. It now transpires that the ‘swift’ transformation of the official mood may have been caused by an official communication, quietly sent to the president over the weekend preceding the one-on-one meeting between the supreme commander and his top commander. In this communication, the president had reportedly been specifically requested to order an enquiry into the memo issue. The significance of this communication was not lost on the political leadership. Stonewalling was no longer a tenable option.

According to highly informed insiders, it has now been decided amongst the troika that Ambassador Haqqani (who will have landed in Islamabad by the time these lines appear in print) will present his version of the ‘truth’ in an all-important meeting restricted to the president, prime minister, COAS and the DG ISI. The ambassador will be required also to respond to a set of questions already prepared in this regard, including why he has not even given an indication of suing Mansoor Ijaz for defamation and slander. Interestingly, to date the Pakistan government too has not even shot off a letter of complaint to the Financial Times, let alone agitate legally, for publishing what it has itself been describing as objectionable material.

On the enquiry front, it is evident from the string of Mr Haqqani’s recent public statements that he will undoubtedly trash all Mansoor Ijaz’s claims and the civilian leadership is hoping that his ‘convincing performance’ would carry the day and that would be the end of the matter. Any possibility of curtains being drawn after a maiden performance by the astute diplomat, however, appears a desperate pipe dream, as those demanding an enquiry are clear that the focus shall remain on substance and not the form. The situation is hardly being helped with new revelations adding new twists by the day. The latest being the admission by US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta that he too was in the know of the memo. In one of the messages exchanged between Mansoor Ijaz and Husain Haqqani, Leon Panetta was also mentioned. On Oct 28, 2011 Mansoor Ijaz wrote: Tell me one important thing. Who likes you and who hates you in the US establishment? Who wants you to stay and who wants to — you up?

Husain Haqqani responded: The debate abt your oped has caused my detractors to put pressure on my boss

He then sent this message: Husain Haqqani: In US estab, I can count on Leon and Petraeus

According to informed insiders, the decision has been made to ignore the obvious and to take the matter to its legitimate logical conclusion and in the expected event of Ambassador Haqqani flatly rejecting all charges, the civilian leadership will be asked to request Mansoor Ijaz to appear before the relevant forum (which could be the same as in this meeting) and prove his claims. Apprehending a diluting of the issue by subjecting it to a deliberately slow and protracted investigation process, it has also been decided that Islamabad shall be ‘requested to agree’ to a firm cut-off date which must be limited to days, and not extended to weeks.

It has also been decided, The News was told by a reliable source, that if need be then the government of Pakistan will be asked to officially contact the Blackberry company to obtain certified data (Pin codes) and to “spare no influence, including cessation of Blackberry services in Pakistan, were the company to act reluctant in complying with the request”. The source went on to state: “If so needed, the option of initiating a judicial enquiry and issuing a subpoena to the company would also be exercised”. According to details trickling out of Rawalpindi, the leadership there appears determined on two things: a) the memo issue carries risks of national proportions and therefore must be thoroughly investigated and taken to its logical conclusion and b) no politics would be played or allowed to be played in deciding the matter.

On the Islamabad political front, however, things may be progressing on a different tangent. It was learnt that initially President Zardari had favoured the option of relieving Ambassador Haqqani of his responsibilities in a bid to seek a swift resolution to this brewing major political crisis, but now he has been advised against this course of action by an ace legal advisor. According to sources, the president was warned that an immediate firing of Ambassador Haqqani could be misperceived as the desperate attempt of a “guilty president severing a critical link” and he has been warned that such a move could also begin a domino effect that could reach his office.

In political terms too, the thinking on the hill is now favouring a strong defiant stance, not out of any love for Mr Haqqani, but for the sole purpose that were the Presidency to appear to have “saved its man once again from the all powerful military establishment”, as put by the source, “then it would garner immense indirect political benefit by appearing impregnable and immensely powerful and once again fence-huggers and even others will gravitate towards it.” Playing politics, in what is an open and shut case of one party lying and the other telling the truth and simply making the guilty pay, is fraught with fatal risks.

Were politics to be played, yet again, it remains to be seen whether the non-civilian establishment will meekly suffer public humiliation and internal institutional discontent by backing down in a matter involving national security, sovereignty and the safety of country’s nuclear assets.

kakaballi · November 20, 2011, 9:15am

Re: The Memo Politics and Zardari's Answer

i cannot see what is wrong with 'the memo'? can anyone help me here.

hanibal · November 20, 2011, 9:26am

Re: The Memo Politics and Zardari's Answer

do you and I matter? the guys who does matter, aka Pasha Sahib and Kiyani does see everything wrong with it...

Anwer_Pasha · November 20, 2011, 10:55am

Re: The Memo Politics and Zardari's Answer

Remember My term is ending ,needing extension,We can do everything for this.
Remember Liaqat Ali Khan .

hanibal · November 20, 2011, 11:04am

Re: The Memo Politics and Zardari's Answer

Didn't pasha got only one year extension? when is that ending?

Anwer_Pasha · November 20, 2011, 11:20am

Re: The Memo Politics and Zardari’s Answer

see
Pak ISI chief gets another extension for one year - The Hindu

tipusulatn · November 20, 2011, 12:01pm

Re: The Memo Politics and Zardari's Answer

Are u sure you can't see anything wrong with this, there is nothing wrong seeking US to warn against any possible coup, but rest everything is wrong.

Promising to bring our nuc program under US supervision. All US boots on the ground, prompting new security team which is more favourable to US.

Do you really believe any independent country could offer this.

Anwer_Pasha · November 20, 2011, 12:06pm

Re: The Memo Politics and Zardari's Answer

Just find , Did Haqqani asked Mansoor to write a memo (in the messages)

snowy_winter · November 20, 2011, 12:17pm

Re: The Memo Politics and Zardari's Answer

Nothing will happen. Pakistani nation has become a two-bit w_o_e.

Anwer_Pasha · November 20, 2011, 1:23pm

Re: The Memo Politics and Zardari's Answer

True
See the postion
Zardari is silent as usual.

Gailani looks satisfied.

Haqqani will go out as an old desire of estab .

Altaf not concerned .

Puppet K is almost silent .

Only Nawaz Shreef is insisting for judicial probe .
Can estab face this probe ?
Not at all .
Because of related issues .

Ali_Syed · November 20, 2011, 1:51pm

Re: The Memo Politics and Zardari's Answer

A meeting is expected between haqqani and the president, prime minister, coas and the isi chief. Intelligence chief would have done his homework for that, let's see how haqqani performs because the current government is depending upon that outcome now. If zardari survives this crisis then I don't see any hurdle for him till the end of the tenure. But I don't think they (establishment) will trust him now for the next turn.

Anwer_Pasha · November 20, 2011, 2:14pm

Re: The Memo Politics and Zardari’s Answer

His next turn is out of question because there is nothing behind him now.
They again used their trump card yesterday.
[BB murderers to be disclosed on proper time: Malik](Redirect Notice %2C rehman malik&source=web&cd=4&sqi=2&ved=0CDIQqQIwAw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sananews.net%2Fenglish%2F2011%2F11%2Fbb-murderers-to-be-disclosed-on-proper-time-malik%2F&ei=SAzJTsDYGojyrQeb95TpDg&usg=AFQjCNFVw2X8fntbrKTVXOBNt3GLH3b3Vw&cad=rja)

That is the reason of the anger of the PPP supporters to them.
Some more
DG ISI has forensically tested Memo evidence: Mansoor Ijaz

Captain1 · November 21, 2011, 1:22am

Re: The Memo Politics and Zardari's Answer

I guess that is PML-N definition, "otherwise we will hang you" is also "democratic". This is how PML-N democracy works: we get the power/majority, that will be all constitutional and democratic but if someone else gets the majority still he should handover the power to PML-N otherwise they will hang him because that is the only way "democracy" works.

hanibal · November 21, 2011, 4:05am

Re: The Memo Politics and Zardari's Answer

If PML-N let the govt complete its tenure, then it is friendly opposition, and when the tenure is near its end and PML-N want to outset it by exposing the failure of the govt in the given time, then it is wrong again... way to go PTI... nothing else you know...

Ali_Syed · November 21, 2011, 6:30am

Re: The Memo Politics and Zardari’s Answer

Nawaz Sharif is trying to get political mileage out of this scandal, it needs to be seen if he can get something out of it or not. According to the latest statement of Ijaz the President was unaware of the memo…

Memogate: Adamant ambassador set to face troikaBy Kamran Yousaf
Published: November 21, 2011

****ISLAMABAD: **The embattled ambassador may take a breather – but not for very long.

**
Having purportedly ‘convinced’ the president of his alibi on the memo controversy, Pakistan’s ambassador to US Hussain Haqqani will now face the troika – the president, the prime minister, and the army chief.

In a meeting that is likely to take place within the next 48 hours, according to an official familiar with the development, Haqqani will face tough questions about his role in a memo, allegedly drafted by him for delivery via a middleman to former chairman US joint chiefs of staff Admiral Mike Mullen, asking for assistance to Pakistan’s civilian government to rein in the military establishment.

**Haqqani pleads ‘not guilty’

**
The decision to convene the troika meeting, second in less than a week on the memo controversy, was taken after a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Haqqani on Sunday.

**Haqqani, who arrived in the capital earlier in the day, had a marathon session with the President where he is believed to have pleaded not guilty.

**
Haqqani strongly denied his role in drafting the memo and offered to face any inquiry, a source close to the ambassador told The Express Tribune. He told the president he is ready to answer questions raised by the military, the source added.
**

“I heard that certain elements in the military are accusing me of working against Pakistan’s interests. I challenge them to say this on my face,” the source quoted Haqqani as telling the president.

**‘Well thought out conspiracy’

**
**Haqqani is said to have flushed in detail, what he termed was a ‘well-thought out conspiracy’ to implicate him in the memo controversy.

**
He questioned the role of the self-declared interlocutor and Pakistani-origin American businessman, Mansoor Ijaz, who claimed to have delivered the memo on behalf of Haqqani.

**Ijaz is the same person who called for declaring the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) a terrorist organisation, Haqqani was quoted as telling the president.

**
A few days later, the same person then reportedly met the head of ISI Lt. General Ahmed Shuja Pasha, Haqqani reportedly added. “What does this indicate?” he was quoted as rhetorically asking the president.

**Haqqani, sources added, also referred to a statement of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chief Imran Khan on October 30, where he was implicated in the scandal for the first time.

**
“I was summoned on November 15 … how could Imran know about it on October 30,” Haqqani was quoted as saying.

**President ‘fully convinced’

**
After hearing his point of view, the President decided to convene the meeting of the troika where Haqqani would defend the allegations leveled against him, the source said, adding that the president was “fully convinced” with Haqqani’s alibi.

Sources also added that Haqqani, who was hesitant to return to Islamabad, flew back once he was believed to have been assured by the Presidency that they would stand by him.

When contacted, presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar refused to comment.

**Ijaz continues to strike

**
Ijaz’s revelations, however, continued to pour in, and on Sunday he claimed that DG ISI had forensically tested the evidence connected to the controversial memo, and deemed it legitimate.

Speaking to *Express News *(in an interview with Maria Zulfiqar which will be aired today), Ijaz claimed to have met General Pasha in London and provided him the evidence regarding the controversial memo drafted allegedly by Haqqani, including telephone records. He said it was irrefutable evidence since it was in his phone and forensically tested by General Pasha.

**And while earlier Ijaz had claimed that the memo was sent with the blessings of President Zardari, he ruled out any understanding between the president and Haqqani on Sunday, and said the president had no knowledge of any such document.
**

Ijaz claimed that President Zardari might have spoken to Haqqani after the Abbottabad raid about the pressure on him, and asked the latter to help him out in this regard, but would have left the mechanics to the ambassador.

**Defence minister weighs in

**
Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar weighed in on Sunday and called Ijaz a ‘conspirator,’ adding that only Haqqani can clear the mystery regarding the memo controversy.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Mukhtar said it would take some time to determine who drafted the memo.

If Haqqani is involved in the scandal, then the prime minister will also be held accountable since the ambassador is part of the premier’s team, Mukhtar added.

The minister vowed that all details will be brought before the public, as soon as details unravel.
(Read: Memogate and matters of sovereignty)
Published in The Express Tribune, November 21[SUP]st[/SUP], 2011.

Ali_Syed · November 21, 2011, 6:49am

Re: The Memo Politics and Zardari's Answer

I agree with Anwar Pasha now, all this seems to be a drama from our ISI to create the environment to send the government home.

Aceones · November 21, 2011, 7:22am

Re: The Memo Politics and Zardari's Answer

both the main actors (haqqani and mansoor) are more americans than pakistanis, they have no interest in pakistan whatsoever, they will do whatever is in the best interest of america their real country and their real boss (even they both said this in their BBM discussion)...

it looks more like american drama than isi... in any case, uptill now its a win-win situation for america...

if zardari is removed, america wins, by making ppp victim once again they get hold of a future stooge which they may want to use at a later stage and they will also be able to arm twist the replacing "non-elected govt"
if zardari is not removed, america still wins, by successfully further maligned army's image in general public and by humiliating them. people are already talking about how "army is just watching everything and not doing anything"

going by "who gets the most benefit out of it" logic, usa is the culprit and winner here, a very mature and well thought "action" is required from several organizations and people in Pakistan, not a mere reaction

boota · November 21, 2011, 7:25am

Re: The Memo Politics and Zardari's Answer

I wonder if ISI/PA has taken action against the governments on its own..coz to me it was always a nod from US before military intervened. Ayyub..Zia..Mush...I can't see these hijra's taking action on their own.. its just a story of one husband with two wives. where each one is jealous of other and always trying to win over her husband, and husband just sits and enjoys the show.

and for the public ...there is nothing..just a life of zombies..:)