Husain Haqqani denies memo link

Pakistan's former envoy to the US Husain Haqqani today dismissed allegations that he was involved in drafting and delivering a controversial memo to Washington to seek help to avoid a military coup in the country.

Haqqani, who appeared before a judicial commission investigating the memo scandal, said he had been "falsely accused" by Pakistani American businessman Mansoor Ijaz of being the person who communicated the contents of the memo to US Admiral Mike Mullen, then the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.

Haqqani was forced to resign last year after Ijaz made public an alleged memo that had sought US help to prevent a possible military takeover in Pakistan after the killing of Osama bin Laden on May 2.

Ijaz has claimed that he drafted and delivered the memo to the former US military chief on the instructions of Haqqani.

The Pakistan government has dismissed Ijaz's claims and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has described the alleged memo as a "piece of paper".

The government challenged the Supreme Court's jurisdiction to look into the memo issue but the court formed a three-judge commission to investigate the scandal.

During today's proceedings, the commission directed the government to issue a multiple-entry visa to Ijaz so that he could come to Pakistan and appear before the panel on January 16.