Pakistan govt, court clash over memogate

Pakistan’s executive and judiciary were set to mark the New Year with confrontation.. Imtiaz Ahmad reports.

Pakistan’s executive and judiciary were set to mark the New Year with confrontation.

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The Asif Ali Zardari government will approach the Supreme Court to review its Friday order to form a commission of inquiry into the so-called “Memogate” scandal, said Babar Awan, vice-president of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party and a former law minister.

The inquiry is seen as a threat to the rule of President Asif Ali Zardari. The case involves a letter, allegedly written by Zardari through his ambassador to the US, asking for help to reduce the political role of the Pakistani army.

No proof has emerged that links the memo to Zardari, but the army believes the memo to be genuine. By admitting the memo, the court is assisting the army, which wants action against all those involved, said government lawyers.