Memogate scandal: I'll face outcome of inquiry, says Prime Minister

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Saturday that he would face the outcome of the Memogate scandal inquiry, according to a private TV channel. The prime minister said President Zardari had no involvement whatsoever in the inquiry and there were conspiracies being hatched to have him involved in the scandal.
Commenting on PML-N president Nawaz Sharif's decision to move the apex court on the memo matter, the prime minister said there was no justification for such a move since a parliamentary committee was already conducting an inquiry into it. "Husain Haqqani was asked to resign and we are conducting an inquiry into the memo scandal," Gilani said. Gilani also said that during the last four years the government was forced to tackle non-issues and despite conspiracies numerous challenges were dealt with.
APP adds: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said that instead of President he as the chief executive of the country was responsible for whatever happens in the country. Addressing a meeting of PPP parliamentarians in the Punjab Assembly at the Governor's House here on Saturday, he said that sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan would be protected at all cost. The Prime Minister took the parliamentarians into confidence over the government's stance on Mohmand Agency incident.
Gilani said the foundation of Pakistan's nuclear programme was laid down by PPP founder Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and the incumbent democratic government would ensure its security. According to him, the credit for country's missile technology, which made country's defence invincible, goes to Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.
He said the PPP had come into power with people's mandate and did not believe in negative tactics. "We reject coming into power through caretaker and chairtaker," he added. Gilani said the history of the PPP was replete with sacrifices rendered by its leaders including its founding father for preserving the rights of the people and down trodden. "The PPP is the name of ideology, struggle and manifesto," he said.
About the PPP's struggle for the restoration of judiciary, release of judges and against restrictions on media, he said Shaheed Benazir Bhutto had directed him to take charge of campaign after her arrest by a dictator Perez Musharraf from the residence of Latif Khan Khosa.
The Prime Minister said the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) and plea-bargain were one and the same thing and many politicians availed of the relief under plea-bargain and joined the Musharraf regime. About the Memogate issue, Prime Minister Gilani said he had not only immediately summoned former Ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani and sought his resignation but also referred the matter to a committee on national security.He has also appointed Sherry Rehman as Pakistan's new Ambassador to the US.
"The allegations levelled by the opposition are baseless and groundless," Gilani asserted. Regarding Nato air strike, he said, he convened a meeting of Defence Cabinet Committee(DCC) on same day and its decision was endorsed by the cabinet subsequently and then the matter was referred to the parliamentary committee on national security without any delay.
The Prime Minister said deprivations of people of south Punjab would be addressed by carving out a Seraiki province. He said the government's policy on the economic front was bearing fruit and Pakistan had become a wheat exporting country. The Prime Minister directed ministers of Water and Power, Petroleum, Interior, Chairman Pakistan Bait-ul-Maal(PBM) and Chairperson Benzir Income Support Fund(BISP) to make themselves available every month in Lahore and to solve problems faced by the lawmakers.
Earlier, Governor Punjab Sardar Latif Khan Khosa, PPP Secretary General Jehangir Badar, PPP Punjab (Central) President Imtiaz Safdar Warriach, PPP President (South Punjab ) Makhdoom Shahabuddin, Opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz, PPP parliamentary party leader in the Punjab Assembly Zulfiqar Gondal addressed the meeting. Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan and Minister for Kashmir Affairs Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo also attended the meeting among others.