PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif takes memo scandal to SC
24 November, 2011
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has filed a petition in the Supreme Court over the 'memogate' scandal, asking for action against those responsible.
The petition, which was filed by Advocate Arshad Jadoon under article 184(3) of the constitution, seeks an inquiry into the scandal, and calls for summoning the respondents, which include: President Asif Ali Zardari, federation though secretary interior, secretary foreign affairs, former ambassador to US Husain Haqqani, Mansur Ijaz (the Pakistan-American businessmen), Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and ISI chief Lt General Ahmad Shuja Pasha. The plea states that the respondents be asked to explain the memorandum.
The PML-N chief prayed that the culprits, who were disloyal to the state as well as the people of Pakistan, must be brought to book. He also requested the court to unearth the dreadful conspiracy which, he said, ridiculed, maligned and demoralise the armed forces of Pakistan and was an attempt to trade away the sovereignty of the country.
The petition further pleaded that the person responsible or involved in initiating the process of memorandum or authoring it or providing any assistance in the process and the one who approved the act must be identified. "The ones who initiated the memorandum, the ones who rendered any help or assistance in the matter and those who blessed or approved of it are culpable for acts of high treason against the state and constitution", it added.
Nawaz contended in his petition that the memorandum is mutinous, treasonous, shocking, repulsive and harrowing for any patriotic Pakistani. He said that an article by Mansur Ijaz was published in Financial Times more then forty days ago but not a single defamation notice was served to FT and others for publishing the story nor was any protest lodged by government of Pakistan. Neither Husain Haqqani nor President Zardari officially lodged protest against the claim of Mansur Ijaz whose claim speaks volumes of the veracity, he added.
He contended that the memorandum threatened the foundation and future of Pakistan by trading away its sovereignty for petty personal gains. He said despite his demand no steps have been taken by the competent authority to set up any independent committee or commission to look into the matter. He said he would have approached parliament to take stock of the situation but the fate of the resolutions of parliament regarding drone attacks and others compelled him to approach the Supreme Court.
Moreover, the Parliamentary Committee on National Security will meet on November 25 under the chairmanship of Senator Raza Rabbani to discuss the latest controversy that sparked after the emergence of a an alleged memo that led to the resignation of Pakistan Ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani.
Earlier, Pakistan Muslim League -Nawaz senior leader Senator Ishaq Dar sent a letter to Senator Raza Rabbani over the scandal, suggesting that the secret issue be discussed in the parliamentary body. He suggested that Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lieutenant General Ahemd Shuja Pasha should also be summoned in the meeting to brief the members over the issue.
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