Pakistan government will file a petition seeking a review of the Supreme Court’s decision to form a commission to probe the memo scandal.
Former Law Minister Babar Awan, who is the vice-president of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party, told the media that the government will approach the apex court for a review of its order issued yesterday to form a three-member judicial panel.
“We can file the review petition because it is the requirement of the Constitution,” Mr. Awan told the media.
Other officials also insisted that the memo at the centre of the controversy was a “pack of lies” and the government could file a review petition.
The apex court yesterday ruled that several petitions seeking a probe into the memo scandal were maintainable and asked the commission to complete its inquiry in four weeks.
Analysts noted that the court had ensured that all members and support staff of the commission were drawn from the judiciary and said this was a move aimed at insulating the panel from possible interference by the government.
The three members of the commission are the Chief Justices of the High Courts of Islamabad, Balochistan and Sindh. A district and sessions judge of Islamabad was nominated the Secretary of the commission.
The PPP-led government was thrown into a crisis when Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz first revealed details of the memo in an article written in the Financial Times on October 10.
The memo sought the U.S. help to prevent a feared military takeover in Pakistan after the killing of Osama bin Laden in May.
