Memogate man: Who is Mansoor Ijaz Ali?

Who is Mansoor Ijaz Ali and what does he have to do with the memogate scandal?

Who is Mansoor Ijaz Ali?

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Mansoor Ijaz Ali, the man behind the memo gate scandal, is an American businessman of Pakistani origin. He is also the founder and chairperson of an investment management company in New York. The company includes retired General James Alan Abrahamson, former director of US president Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative.

Ijaz is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Mansoor Ijaz and Memogate

Ijaz was in Monaco when he allegedly got a message from Pakistan ambassador to the US, Husain Haqqani asking him to return the call. The message further asked Ijaz to provide assistance in drafting a memo to Admiral Mike Mullen of the US.

Ijaz, further claims that Haqqani verbally dictated the contents of what was to be discussed with Mullen. But, according to GeoNews, the US interlocutors insisted on a written memorandum as in the recent past Pakistani officials have made verbal offers but failed to honour them.

According to the news channel, Mansoor Ijaz further claimed that the memo was handed over to him by the Pakistan ambassador and he was asked to deliver it to the US president. He sent the memo to Adm Mike Millen on May 10.

In what sent the Pakistani press in a frenzy, On October 10 2011, Mansoor Ijaz wrote a column in the Financial Times revealing that he helped deliver a memo to Admiral Mullen, drafted by a Pakistani official stationed in the US at the behest of President Zardari.

As a result of this disclosure, Pakistani ambassador to the US, Husain Haqqani tendered his resignation.

Admiral Mullen initially claimed he knew nothing of the memo, but later changed his claim to "thinking nothing of it".