Pakistani ambassador to U.S. resigns

Pakistani ambassador to the United States, Hussain Haqqani, Tuesday resigned after a Pakistani- American claimed that he had been asked by Haqqani to deliver the President Asif Ali Zardari's memo to the U.S. former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen, seeking Washington's help to rein the powerful army.Spokesman of the Prime Minister's House said that the Prime Minister was pleased to direct conducting of a detailed investigation at an appropriate level and in the meanwhile he asked Hussain Haqqani to submit his resignation so that the investigation can be carried out properly, a PM office statement said."I have requested PM (Prime Minister) Gilani to accept my resignation as Pakistan Ambassador to US," Haqqani wrote on Twitter."I have much to contribute to building a new Pakistan free of bigotry & intolerance. Will focus energies on that," Haqqani said.Haqqani, a close aide of President Zardari, was appointed Pakistan ambassador to the U.S. when the Pakistan Peoples Party government took over in 2008.The ambassador was summoned by the Prime Minister after the controversy emerged as a big challenge for the government.The resignation came after a high level meeting in Islamabad was held on Tuesday. The meeting at the Prime Minister's house was attended by President Asif Zardari, Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and the intelligence chief Lt. General Ahmad Shuja Pasha.Sources said that Haqqani faced tough questions during the meeting but he defended himself and repeated denial of sending any memo.The spokesman for the Prime Minister said that all concerned would be afforded sufficient and fair opportunity to present their views and the investigation shall be carried out fairly, objectively and without bias.The spokesman further added as a result of controversy generated by the alleged memo which had been drafted, formulated and further admitted to have been received by Authority in the U.S. , it has become necessary in national interest to formally arrive at the actual and true facts.The opposition parties have mounted pressure on the government to clarify position and the main opposition Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) has called for a special session of the parliament to discuss the issue. The opposition has also asked for treason case against Haqqani and his arrest on his arrival in Pakistan.Pakistani-American Mansoor Ijaz, who had claimed to have delivered the memo, said that he has also provided all "evidences" to the Pakistani authorities."I am ready to go to Pakistan to provide more details," he told Pakistani reporters in London last week. A petition has also been filed in the Supreme Court, seeking formation of a judicial commission to investigate the issue.