Memogate scandal centres on an alleged letter or memorandum seeking assistance from the administration of the US President Barrack Obama. The main contents of the letter entailed that Pakistan needed help to avert the military from staging a coup against the civilian command of the country.
The memo was allegedly drafted by Pakistan´s former ambassador to the US, Husain Haqqani, on the directives of the head of the state. The memo was given to Pakistani- American businessman, Mansoor Ijaz, to be delivered to Admiral Mike Mullen. Ijaz revealed the details of the letter in one of the articles he wrote for the Financial Times.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan has been investigating upon the charges levelled against Haqqani and formed a commission specifically dedicated to conduct an extensive enquiry. The commission on June 12, 2012 revealed the findings of the report which stated that Haqqani was disloyal to the state and authored/delivered the memorandum.
The central characters of the Familygate or the recent graft scandal which has taken the media, business community and judiciary by storm are the founder of Bahria Town, Malik Riaz and the Chief Justice's son Arsalan Iftikhar Chaudhry.
The scandal broke out when Malik Riaz accused Arsalan of accepting bribes up to Rs. 400 million to help him gain influence in the judiciary for various pending cases in the court. Arsalan, however, firmly denied the allegations and called Riaz's allegations a move to tarnish the image of his family and the judiciary of Pakistan.
Riaz further alleged that he did not bribe anyone, however, was blackmailed to do so. The media also came into the limelight when famous anchorpersons allegedly helped the business tycoon to clear his public image by planting an interview on a private channel. It is also being alleged that Riaz has bribed some of the most prominent names in journalism to gain influence in the media.
On June 14, 2012, the Supreme Court wrapped up the suo moto case taken to investigate the graft case and ordered the Attorney General to take strict action against Arsalan, Riaz and Salman Ahmed — Riaz's son-in-law.
