The memo crisis has taken a very serious turn after Prime Minister Gilani accused armed forces of creating a state within a state. The worst indictment levied against the forces was "Who issued visa to OBL?" It was said in response to the allegation on government for issuing visas to Americans without following due process. These developments have presumably drawn battle-lines between civil government and the army. Political leadership has failed to realise that it is not the army that wants to seize power rather the agents of our foes have managed to pitch institutions of state against each other. A situation has come up, which our enemies wished for.
If we look at the events a clear pattern emerges. Osama Bin Laden was assassinated on May 2, 2011. Reportedly the memo was sent on 9th or 10th May 2011. ISAF started buildup on Pak-Afghan border in October 2011. Mansoor Ijaz leaked the information about the memo through an article published in Financial Times on 10th October, exactly five months after it was supposedly initiated by Pakistan's ambassador to USA Hussain Haqqani. The issue was made public with a purpose. It created wedge between civil government and the army. The case was filed in the SC of Pakistan on 19 November 2011. Once everybody had filed their reply and stood committed, on 15 December 2011, Mansoor Ijaz came up with the story of DG ISI visiting Middle East to seek assistance to oust the sitting government. Naturally, that further widened the rift between the institutions and pushed the country towards destabalisation. Pakistan is already in a state of deep crisis. Our relations with Americans are at the lowest ebb after the Salala incident. In fact they are knocking at our western border. Economy is down-sliding, prices are sky-rocketing, unemployment is on its peak and we are surrounded by our enemies. This is no time for infighting. Memo-gate issue is sub-judice; we should let SC handle it. Instead of making provocative statements civil and military leadership should rather work to bridge the differences to create national unity. We should not fall prey to the instigations of our enemies. In these circumstances national harmony and cohesion can steer the country out of crises. I am sure the leadership is cognisant of this reality and would work for the achievement of this objective.
KASHIF SHAREEF,
Karachi, December 27.