The contents of memo are revealed, Haqqani denies involvement, Gilani announces Haqqani’s recall; Suicide bomber killed in Karachi; Zardari installs Abdi as new PPP leader in Karachi; ATC acquits Sufi Mohammad’s sons of terrorism charges; Gilani threatens “action” against Hayat; Reuters chronicles rise of Imran Khan, a dozen former PML-Q members join PTI; Police kill two militants in Peshawar;Tethyan Copper accuses Baloch officials of violating law; Pakistan phone companies to screen texts for "obscene" language.

U.S.-Pakistan Relations

  • On Thursday, The Cable obtained a copy of the memo that has been at the center of the latest complication in U.S.-Pakistan relations. The memo, allegedly authored by Pakistani Ambassador to the U.S. Hussain Haqqani and delivered shortly after the U.S. raid that killed Osama bin Laden, proposes that the U.S. support a reshuffling of the Pakistani government where civilian officials curb the dominance of the military and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) leadership and form a new civilian national security team. It also delineated a six-point plan that the newly installed national security institution would follow to help the U.S. achieve its interests in the region.  Haqqani has denied any connection to the memo, and suggested that President Asif Ali Zardari’s position could be in danger if “memo-gate” continues to escalate.  According to Dawn, the affair has exposed the tense rift between Pakistan’s powerful military establishment and weak civilian government.  On Friday, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani informed members of that National Assembly that Haqqani has been recalled to Islamabad to provide an explanation.  Gilani also emphasized that President Zardari had no involvement with the memo.[1]

Karachi Violence

Pakistani Politics

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa

Balochistan

Censorship



[1] Josh Rogin “Secret Pakistani-U.S. memo offering overthrow of military leadership revealed,” The Cable, November 17, 2011. Available at http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/11/17/exclusive_secret_pakistan_us_memo_revealed_ijaz_calls_amb_haqqani_architect_of_sche
“‘Memogate’ scandal reveals civil-military splits” Dawn, November 18, 2011. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/18/memogate-scandal-reveals-civil-military-splits.html
Atika Rehman “Memogate: Ambassador Haqqani will give explanation, says Gilani,” Express Tribune, November 18, 2011. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/293866/memogate-ambassador-haqqani-will-give-explanation-says-gilani/
[2]  “Bomber dies in Karachi Rangers operation,” Dawn, November 18, 2011. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/18/bomber-dies-in-karachi-rangers-operation.html
[3] “Karachi PPP shuffle,” Dawn, November 18, 2011. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/18/karachi-ppp-shuffle.html
[4] “Sufi Mohammad’s sons acuitted by Swat ATC,” Dawn, November 17, 2011. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/17/swat-atc-sets-free-three-sufi-mohammad-sons.html
[5] “Gilani stipulates ‘action’ against Faisal Saleh Hayat,” Dawn, November 17, 2011. Available at http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/17/gilani-stipulates-%e2%80%98action%e2%80%99-against-faisal-saleh-hayat.html
[6] "Pakistan's Imran Khan: Playboy Cricketer to PM?," Reuters, November 18, 2011. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2011/11/18/world/asia/international-us-pakistan-khan.html?_r=1&ref=world “24 former PML-Q parliamentarians, nazims join PTI,” Express Tribune, November 17, 2011. Available at http://tribune.com.pk/story/293375/24-former-pml-q-parliamentarians-nazims-join-pti/
[7] "Two militants killed, SHO injured in clash," The News, November 18, 2011. Available at http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=10378&Cat=13
[8] “Antofagasta, Barrick JV says Pakistan breached rules,” Dawn, November 18, 2011. Available athttp://www.dawn.com/2011/11/18/antofagasta-barrick-jv-says-pakistan-breached-rules.html
[9] "Pakistan telecoms authority to block 'obscene' texts," BBC, November 17, 2011. Available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15772292  
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