Haqqani exchanged text messages with US businessman: Malik

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's ambassador to Washington, Hussain Haqqani, did not write a letter seeking US help against the country's powerful military, Pakistan's interior minister said Saturday.

However, he was involved in communication via text message with an American national, Rehman Malik said.

Haqqani, who has offered to resign over the situation, but has denied the reports of his involvement, has now been called to Islamabad by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari to explain himself.

Speaking in Islamabad, Malik said there was no written letter, but he added that Gilani and Zardari had decided to call ambassador Haqqani to explain the situation

"This was not a letter, neither from presidency nor from any government 

organisation," Malik said.

"This is communication through SMS (text messages) by two individuals. One is an American national and second is our ambassador."

He said the evidence available was "an exchange of SMS messages and 

Blackberry messages" and added: "Now we have to see that who initiated these." 

Government officials in Islamabad said Haqqani was on his way to the 

capital. 

"And if his point of view was not satisfactory then it is clear that it is open for investigation," Malik said.

"It is not according to the justice to condemn someone without hearing him."

Posted in: Crimes