Ijaz says Zardari instructed Haqqani on memo issue

London, Feb 24 (ANI): Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz has said that Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari had directed former US envoy Husain Haqqani on the memo issue.

Giving his testimony before the memo commission through videoconferencing from Pakistan's High Commission in London, Ijaz said that when he had asked Haqqani if he had the permission of the 'boss' (President Zardari), the latter replied in the positive, the Daily Times reports.

Ijaz said he sent a final email to both Haqqani and General James Jones on May 10, 2011, adding that he kept the identity of Jones hidden in the email.

"I did not want Haqqani to know who was helping me," he added.

The commission directed Ijaz to submit all records regarding the memo issue, including his email accounts, telephone bills of May 2011 and other relevant documents, used while drafting the memo. It also asked him to cooperate with Haqqani's counsel Zahid Bukhari during his possible cross-examination in the future.

Ijaz also confessed before the commission to preparing the first draft of the controversial memo himself without Haqqani's consent, adding he told Haqqani that General Jones had asked for the message to be drafted in written form.

The Pakistani-American businessman also claimed to have drafted the memo after Haqqani gave him points and requested to deliver it to Admiral Mike Mullen. The memo was delivered on May 10, 2011. (ANI)