I FOUND Cyril Almeida’s ‘Sceptics guide to Memogate’ (Nov18) very useful. This story starting from an editorial piece by Mansoor Ijaz has been sensationalised beyond a reasonable limit by a section of the media.

It should be interesting for seekers of the truth in the Pakistan media to find out what really prevented the publication of Mr Ijaz’s piece till Oct 10 after its timely production on Sept 23, the day after Admiral Mullen’s testimony (Ijaz claims it was Eurozone’s financial meltdown) and what finally convinced Financial Times to publish it.

Not being an avid follower of the world financial scene, I should presume that Eurozone made a dramatic financial recovery on Oct 9 or thereabouts.

Mansoor Ijaz’s interview (Nov 18) is also quite revealing. He explains that the only reason he opened his editorial piece in Financial Times with reference to the memo was to establish his credibility. Basically he wanted to tell the world that Admiral Mullen was a nice guy and a true friend of Pakistan and the press and people of Pakistan ought to respect him (Mullen) as such.

In response to another question (which he called a good question), Ijaz explains that people on Mullen’s side (his interlocutors, as he puts it) wanted things in writing as Pakistan has been duplicitous in the past.

Is it not, then, surprising that Mullen could not initially remember anything about this memo and later on when his people searched for it, it was discovered as a discarded item not worthy of serious consideration.

Mr Ijaz’s motives might indeed be similar to what they were in 1995-96 when he claimed compensation for getting a pro-Pakistan amendment through in the US Congress.

ARIF KAZMI Karachi