KHI 24-11-2011_Layout 1 11/24/2011 1:46 AM Page 1
America loses key ally in Pakistan
IMF, Pakistan agree on short, mediumterm reforms
Pakistan close cricket series in style
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PROFIT | PAGE 01
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pakistantoday.com.pk
rs15.00 Vol ii no 148 22 Pages Karachi edition
Nawaz moves SC over ‘memogate’ petition names Zardari, COaS, ISI chief and Haqqani respondents among others
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thursday, 24 november, 2011 Zul-Haj 27, 1432
another ppp loyalist
Govt picks Sherry for Washington post
Taliban ‘send message’ to govt with attacks on security forces PESHAWAR AgencIeS
appointment suggests decision still prerogative of political government even after ‘memogate’
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StAff RePoRt
The Pakistan Muslim Leaguenawaz (PML-n) on Wednesday approached the Supreme Court with a constitutional petition, praying the court to summon President Asif Ali Zardari and other respondents in person to explain the matter of the memorandum allegedly written to the uS government. PML n President nawaz Sharif has filed the petition under Article 184(3), making President Asif Zardari, former ambassador to uS Hussain Haqqani, Mansoor Ejaz, COAS general Ashfaq Kayani, ISI chief Lt general Ahmed Shuja Pasha, the federation and the foreign secretary respondents in the case. The PML-n chief prayed the court that all the respondents be summoned in person to explain “the detestable, the despicable and the treacherous memorandum in question”. He cited an article, published in Financial Times on October 10, 2011, saying that after the publication of the article, former ambassador to uS Hussain Haqqani and the president, dismissed the author’s claim by lightly brushing it aside as a mere fantasy. He said that the contents of the memorandum in question are designed not only to demoralise and cow down the armed forces, which was a national asset being a national institution obligated to defend the
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country and its people by seeking foreign intervention for the said purpose, but it also threatened the very foundation and the future of Pakistan. “The act in question of the ones who initiated the said memorandum, the ones who rendered any help or assistance in the matter and those who blessed or approved it are culpable for acts of high treason against the state and the constitution,” the PML-n chief submitted. nawaz informed the court that despite his demand, no step at all was taken by the competent authorities to set up any independent committee or commission to look into the fateful affair in question. Continued on Page 04
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uSHIng up speculation as to who would succeed Husain Haqqani as Pakistan’s ambassador to the united States, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza gilani appointed on Wednesday another Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) loyalist and former information minister Sherry Rehman as Pakistan’s new envoy to Washington, suggesting that the appointment was still a prerogative of the political government even after the explosive situation it faced following the emergence of the secret memo that appeared to threaten civil-military relations. Haqqani was removed on Tuesday when he was confronted by Chief of Army Staff general Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt general Ahmad Shuja Pasha, in the presence of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister gilani, for his “involvement” in the memo controversy. Sherry Rehman, who, after she had resigned as information minister, was Continued on Page 04
ISLAMABAD: Sherry Rehman, Pakistan’s new ambassador to the US, smiles after talking to journalists on Wednesday. afp
Militants on Wednesday attacked security forces in the northwest, killing four officers in gunfights that underscore the potent militant threat despite reported peace talks. Heavily armed militants attacked a police station in Dera Ismail Khan and killed two officers. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the pre-dawn assault. District Police Officer Suhail Khalid said the militants, who had arrived in three vehicles, fired rockets on the roadside police station in Daraban area at 4am. He said after firing the rockets, the militants surrounded the police station area and hurled hand grenades inside the building, killing a police officer. Another policeman succumbed to injuries later in hospital “There were around 10-12 militants, who came in vehicles and used grenades, rockets and firing during the attack. They fled in the same vehicles,” he said. The DPO said at least four policemen, including Station House Officer Zulfikar, were injured. Police official Riaz Hussain, who was injured in the attack, said the fight continued for more than 40 minutes.“We suddenly heard a hand grenade blast, followed by the intense firing. We retaliated and fired back,” Hussain told AFP from his hospital bed, injured by a bullet in his right shoulder. Responsibility: The TTP’s main spokesman, Ehsanullah Ehsan said, “We accept the responsibility for the attack on a police station in Dera Ismail Khan,” “We are not talking to the government and will not be part of any dialogue with the government. Continued on Page 04