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Pakistan

Firdous Ashiq Awan resigns

Dunya News

The information minister resigned due to failure to defend govt in memogate scandal.

The Information Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan offered to resign on Sunday, as tensions continued between the civilian government and Pakistan Army over the memo alleging an army plot to seize power in May.However, the information minister, lately, expressed that the PM has rejected his resignation and the he (PM) asked her to work as minister.It was not immediately clear if Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan was forced to resign or if she quit voluntarily – a move which could signal growing differences within President Asif Ali Zardaris troubled Pakistan Peoples Party.I endorse your leadership (but) I think I am not competent enough to continue as cabinet member and hence submit my resignation, Awan tearfully said at a televised cabinet meeting.Some analysts say Awan may have been forced to resign due to her failure to convincingly defend the government in the memogate scandal, as its being called in Pakistan.Businessman Mansoor Ijaz, writing in a column in the Financial Times on Oct. 10, said a senior Pakistani diplomat had asked that a memo be delivered to the Pentagon with a plea for US help to stave off a military coup in the days after the raid that killed Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in May.Ijaz later identified the diplomat as Pakistans ambassador to Washington, Husain Haqqani, who denied involvement but resigned over the controversy.The scandal has reached a fever pitch, and rumours have swirled in recent weeks that Zardari, who left Pakistan for medical treatment in Dubai earlier this month, would be forced out by the military establishment.Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani has ruled out the possibility of a coup and the military does not want to be seen as interfering in civilian politics, but there are still several scenarios under which Zardari could be forced out.The military could use its extensive influence to isolate Zardari, or offer him an honourable exit by guaranteeing he will not face prosecution on long-standing corruption charges.Kayani has already called for an investigation into who may have been behind the memo which could further undermine the deeply unpopular Zardari.The Supreme Court is looking into a petition demanding an inquiry into the matter.
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