Pakistan judiciary probes memo scandal

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/218555.html

Pakistan's Supreme Court says it has established a commission to investigate a secret memo scandal seeking to curb the power of the military.

The Supreme Court appointed a three-judge panel on Friday to look into a controversial memo allegedly drafted by Pakistan's civilian leadership asking for the US help to rein in the nation's powerful military.

The Supreme Court probe, to be led by the chief justice of the Balochistan High Court, comes against the backdrop of government opposition to a court investigation since the parliament is already looking into the matter.

Islamabad has described such a probe as unnecessary, arguing that its opponents on the Supreme Court, in the military and in the political opposition are using the scandal to try to overthrow the country's leadership.

The current political scandal focuses on a controversial memo allegedly sent to the United States in May asking for help in stopping an alleged coup plot by the army.

The plot is said to have been crafted by Pakistan's former Pakistani Ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani, with support from the country's President Asif Ali Zardari. However, both Haqqani and Zardari have denied the accusations.

Pakistan's military has staged a series of coups and ruled the country for most of its 64-year history.