American businessman Mansoor Ijaz at the Pakistan High Commission in London. -- Reuters Photo

ISLAMABAD: Central character of the memogate scandal Mansoor Ijaz on Thurday reiterated that there was a serious threat of military coup in Pakistan after the May 02 operation last year, DawnNews reported.

The commission, formed by the Supreme Court to investigate controversial memogate scandal, has released a 39 page recorded statement of the US businessman.

Ijaz, however, refused to give away ‘secrete’ information about the Abbottabad operation on May 02 last year by the United States, which killed al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.

The American businessman was being cross-examined via a video link from the Pakistani High Commission in London.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif's legal counsels Mustafa Ramday and Rasheed A Rizvi are in London for this purpose.

While, Hussain Haqqani’s counsel Zahid Bukhari and Ijaz's counsel Akram Sheikh are attending proceedings at the Islamabad High Court.

Ijaz said that there was a serious threat to the government of a military coup and DG Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt-Gen Shuja Pasha met with rulers of different countries to gain their support on the matter.

Mansoor Ijaz further revealed that he recommended actions against the “dual policy” of Pakistan in the article he wrote a day after the Abbottabad operation which was agreed by the former Pakistani ambassador to US Hussain Haqqani. However, Haqqani refused to publically support his views, he added.

Ijaz also told the commission about his meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari after May 2009. He said that he is a US citizen, he is neither an agent of any country nor he worked on payroll of Pakistani government.

He also revealed that the US pilot and Pakistani air traffic control were in contact with each other before the Abbottabad raid.

Opinion

Four hundred seats?

Four hundred seats?

The mix of divisive cultural politics and grow­th-oriented economics that feeds Hindu middle-class ambition and provides targeted welfare are key ingredients in the BJP’s political trajectory.

Editorial

Weathering the storm
Updated 29 Apr, 2024

Weathering the storm

Let 2024 be the year when we all proactively ensure that our communities are safeguarded and that the future is secure against the inevitable next storm.
Afghan repatriation
29 Apr, 2024

Afghan repatriation

COMPARED to the roughshod manner in which the caretaker set-up dealt with the issue, the elected government seems a...
Trying harder
29 Apr, 2024

Trying harder

IT is a relief that Pakistan managed to salvage some pride. Pakistan had taken the lead, then fell behind before...
Return to the helm
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Return to the helm

With Nawaz Sharif as PML-N president, will we see more grievances being aired?
Unvaxxed & vulnerable
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Unvaxxed & vulnerable

Even deadly mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue and malaria have vaccines, but they are virtually unheard of in Pakistan.
Gaza’s hell
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Gaza’s hell

Perhaps Western ‘statesmen’ may moderate their policies if a significant percentage of voters punish them at the ballot box.