ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: Brushing aside rumours in some circles, Mansoor Ijaz, one of the main characters in the memo controversy, announced on Thursday that he would definitely visit Pakistan to offer his testimony before the judicial commission.

'Some important securityrelated concerns have arisen as the date of my testimony nears. Certain adjustments are being made that are not for public dissemination,' Mr Ijaz said without elaborating in an email.

He also denied reports that he had been asked by the US government not to visit Pakistan. 'Reports that the American government has put pressure on me not to testify are false. To the contrary, I have received broad-based and bipartisan support from my fellow Americans for my willingness to speak truth to power and to put my factual recounting of events related to the memorandum in question on the record before the commission.

He said: 'The security issues surrounding my arrival are material and will be managed in the best interests of my hosts, my family and myself. I look forward to enjoying the local food, seeing some old friends and putting the truth on the record once and for all so this episode in Pakistan's history can be put behind us.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Office said that so far Mr Ijaz had not applied for visa to visit Pakistan.

'According to my information, none of our missions in UK has so far received his visa application,' FO spokesman Abdul Basit said at the weekly media briefing.

Mr Ijaz's counsel Akram Sheikh had earlier told the judicial commission probing the scandal that he would appear before it on Jan 16 to 'uncover the reality'.