Memo to Swiss letter: President touches on issues

Pakistan

Memo to Swiss letter: President touches on issues

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President Zardari has touched on thorny issues, including memogate, afflicting the PPP government.

07 January,2012 11:26 pm

In an interview, President Zardari said had Hussain Haqqani been guilty, he would not have come back to Pakistan. He (Haqqani) would have preferred to stay in the US then. The memo issue has been given undue coverage, President Zardari added. He also said that he believed Hamid Saeed Kazmi was innocent and should be granted bail.Hamid Saeed Kazmi was removed as religious affairs minister following charges of corruption in Haj operations. He was accused of providing Pakistani pilgrims with expensive but substandard accommodation and transport.President Zardari also dispelled the impression that he has appointed his friends on key posts such as PIA MD. He said he only had acquaintance with PIA MD. He said new planes should be bought when they are cheap instead of making a business plan. President Zardari also said that he had suggested having route adjustment with a Turkish airline in the best national interest.President Zardari said that Shah Mehmood Qureshi was made foreign minister, but he turned against his own benefactors. President said perhaps Qureshi was not sitting well with Yousuf Raza Gilani as prime minister.Asked why Qureshi swore on the Holy Quran that nuclear weapons were not safe under him (President Zardari), he said that the authority of the nuclear subject has already been passed on to the parliament.On the issue of Swiss letter ordered by the Supreme Court, President Zardari said it would not happen because his party doesn’t want to allow anyone to have trial of the grave of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. He also insisted that it was the PPP Central Executive Committee’s unanimous decision.About his friendship with Zulfiqar Mirza, President Zardari said that he can’t believe that Mirza could speak or act against him. He also said while grinning that perhaps Mirza has some medical problem.Asked if he had learnt a lesson from Mirza ditching him, President Zardari said: “I don’t know. But I am sure Bilawal has learnt a lesson.”Asked what had Bilawal learnt, the President said he would choose not to reveal that.Asked if the US was having a dialogue with the Taliban, shouldn’t Pakistan follow the suit as there have been news that the Pak authorities had been in touch for talks, President Zardari said he doesn’t have any knowledge of contacts in his capacity as President. “I don’t know if the PM knows about it,” he added.Asked why he call Nawaz Sharif a Maulvi, the President said it was an undeniable fact that Nawaz started as a politician under Zia-ul-Haq.Asked why he did listen to the advice of Nawaz Sharif that Chief of Army Staff and DG ISI should not be granted extension, the President said Nawaz never gave him any advice in person. He made statements for the media.If Nawaz Sharif had objection to their extensions, he should have staged demonstrations against the decision or as a last step should have passed a resolution in the Punjab Assembly where his party rules.To a question of any enmity or grudge with Chief Justice of Pakistan, President Zardari jokingly said the Chief Justice is not from his village.When reminded of his speech at Garhi Khuda Buksh where the Chief Justice of Pakistan’s attention was drawn towards the murder case of Benazir Bhutto, the President said the lower judiciary functions under the Chief Justice and was supposed to reach a judgment in the case.He said the FIA had submitted the challans with the court and asked why four judges had been changed during the course of hearing.Asked if Rehman Malik was responsible for Benazir Bhutto’s last rally at Liaquat Bagh, President Zardari said Rehman was not responsible for Benazir’s security. President Zardari said Benazir Bhutto was advised by him and her children against returning to Pakistan but she was not be willing to stay back.When asked to recall a speech by him on BBs first death anniversary in which he had said he knew about her murderers, President Zardari said: I had reached till Baitullah Mehsud but I didn’t put a full stop there, I want to move further ahead. Condoleezza Rices (former US secretary of state) book also has a hint that points towards it.When referred to Benazir Bhutto’s email in which she had said that if she got killed, Musharraf should held responsible, the President said: He (Musharraf) will be responsible; he is named in the FIR. Why judge are not taking actions against him.”Asked why Guard of honour was given to to Pervez Musharraf, he said officers at Presidential House gave him guard of honour.He addede that putting Musharraf on trial would have demoralised the Army as an institution.