The “coup memo” scandal continues to unfold in Pakistan today, with Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz, the courier of the alleged memo, saying today that the contents were dictated to him directly by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani.

Haqqani was recalled to Pakistan yesterday to answer for allegations of his involvement in the memo, which claimed to be from President Zardari to US military chief Admiral Michael Mullen. In the memo, he sought US military help for a move against the Pakistani military, promising a more US-friendly military establishment as a reward.

Zardari has denied any role in the plot, as has Haqqani, who offered to resign on the basis that someone under his charge might’ve ordered the memo sent without his knowledge. Mullen acknowledged receiving the memo earlier this week.

Concern over the issue has soared in Pakistan since Mullen’s admission made the story more than just a claim from one businessman, and opposition leader Nawaz Sharif has called for the chief justice to establish a commission to probe the claims that Zardari sought to undermine the nation’s military to the benefit of a foreign power.

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