Pakistan army chief says U.S. memo is a reality

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Dec. 22, IRNA -- Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has told the Supreme Court that a memo was sent to the U.S. allegedly by the former Pakistani ambassador Hussain Haqqani on behalf of President Asif Zardari to seek U.S. help against the army.

The army chief made the statement submitted to the apex court on oath for the hearing of memo scandal case in Supreme Court.

Talking to journalists, Attorney General Maulvi Anwar ul Haq said that General Kayani’s second reply had been submitted to the court.

He said that the army chief stood firm by his old stance in the second reply. In the affidavit submitted to the court, Gen Kayani said that all his earlier statements were based on facts and nothing had been kept hidden from the court.

Reiterating his stand on the issue, Kayani wrote in his affidavit that memo was a reality and should be investigated thoroughly.

General Kayani further wrote that the issue has affected the national sovereignty, adding that evidence regarding the contacts made in the context of the conspiracy is available.

He also wrote that the memo issue has dented national security and lowered the morale of the armed forces.

The Supreme Court had asked the President, the Prime Minister, the army chief, the intelligence chief to submit their affidavits for the hearing of the memo case. All have submitted their replies, minus President Zardari.

Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in his affidavit, also wrote that the issue should be investigated because whatever said and written on the issue was all correct.

“It is a matter of public interest and the people of Pakistan should know who did what and why?” the reply stated.

Nawaz Sharif said that he had not sought halt to an inquiry being held by the Parliamentary Committee of National Security (PCNS). He, however, added that in the same spirit, neither parliament nor the administration could stop the court from playing its constitutional role.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30726266