KARACHI: The main character of the controversial memogate scandal, Mansoor Ijaz on Saturday came up with new allegations against the government of Pakistan, claimed that President Zardari and Hussain Haqqani were aware of May 02 operation in Abbottabad before hand, DawnNews reported.
The Pakistani born US businessman, in his fresh article for “Newsweek”, unearthed that the former ambassador to US Hussain Haqqani assured him about approval of the boss (Zardari) prior to delivering the controversial memo to Admiral Mike Mullen.
Haqqani also assured him that the memo was backed up by the top political leadership in Islamabad, wrote Ijaz.
Ijaz also claimed that Haqqani had been trying to divert attention from President Zardari in the scandal.
Ijaz wrote that Haqqani only chose him to deliver the memo because he knew how unpopular Ijaz were to the majority of Islamabad leadership and it would be easier to deny chargeslater, if the matter become public.
Haqqani changed his “BlackBerry” Handset three times since May to hide its messages record, wrote Ijaz. However original messages from him were still saved and can be produced as evidence, he added.
Mansoor Ijaz further wrote that the President Zardari was the architect of the whole memogate episode.
He said Haqqani received pat on the back from the president when he reached Islamabad after completing the job successfully on May 12.
Haqqani denies Ijaz’s fresh claims
In a letter written by Husain Haqqani to the “Newseek” magazine, the former ambassador denied allegations made by Ijaz in his Saturday’s article.
Haqqani wrote “In the strongest terms possible, I categorically reject as reckless, baseless and false the allegations levied against me by Mr Mansoor Ijaz about prior knowledge of US plans for a raid in Abbottabad in violation of Pakistani sovereignty to eliminate Osama bin Laden as well as his earlier charges about my role in a memo he wrote and sent to the US Chairman Joint Chiefs.”
Haqqani threatened to initiate legal action against the magazine unless the article written by Mansoor Ijaz was retracted.
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