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The federal government requested the Supreme Court on Thursday to dismiss PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif’s petition over the memo scandal because appropriate steps on the matter had already been taken by the competent authorities —executive and parliamentary committee.
In a brief reply submitted by Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq, the government said it was essential that the Parliamentary Committee on National Security should proceed with the probe to determine the issue and give its recommendations.
“So that the parliament, which has supremacy under the Constitution as a representative body of the people of Pakistan, may consider and take appropriate actions and steps if need be,” it said.
The reply has also attached an internet download of a story, titled “Pakistan’s memogate: was there ever going to be a coup?” The story, written by Omar Warriach, appeared in Britain’s Daily Independent on Tuesday.
According to the story, Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz claimed that ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha had visited Arab countries for discussions on a possible coup.
The reply said: “It is the firm belief and resolve of the present democratic government to safeguard, defend and protect the national integrity and sovereignty on all fronts. This resolve is manifested through the sacrifices made by coalition partners in the government, including the ultimate sacrifice of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
“The presidency as well as the federal government have already issued denial of the contents of the article appeared in the Financial Times on October 10. It is the stance of the federation that the federal government (including the constitutional head of the state, the constitutional chief executive of the country or any other component of the federal government) has neither conceptualised nor initiated or, in any manner, has anything to do with the alleged memo or the allegations or views expressed therein.
“It is a matter of record that the former ambassador to the US (Husain Haqqani) had put in resignation on the call of the chief executive and its acceptance has been notified. The (parliamentary) committee has taken cognizance and is seized with the matter.
“Needless to say, the committee is fully empowered to not only probe the matter and record evidence but also to ensure production of such evidence as it deems necessary and for this purpose all the powers of a civil court are available to the committee.
“All committees of the parliament are the creation of the rules framed under the Constitution of Pakistan. The federal government has already given directions to all concerned to assist the committee in any manner it deems fit and proper. All democratically-elected political parties are represented in the committee.”
