Interior Minister Rehman Malik Saturday said that Mansoor Ijaz's name might be put on Exit Control List (ECL) on the recommendations of Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS). Talking to media persons, Malik said the Interior Ministry was responsible for over-all security of American businessman Mansoor Ijaz. If needed, he added, the government could requisition the military help to beef up security for Ijaz in accordance with constitution.
He said the ministry had respect for the order of the commission on Memogate and help of army could be sought according to law and constitution. He said that the ministry would act on the instructions for Attorney General of Pakistan Molvi Anwar-ul-Haq. Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is not a security agency; it has nothing to do with the security of Mansoor Ijaz, according to Malik.
He said "Ijaz is free to move in Pakistan and he can go any where he wants to go." Malik said that Ijaz should appear before the PCNS in relation to the Memogate scandal and that he should also explain his "involvement" in toppling Benazir Bhutto's government. Mansoor should explain why he had been writing against the ISI, he added. Commenting on the closure of supply line of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato), Malik said the parliament would decide whether or not the country should open the supply lines. According to him, the government has decided not to open Nato supply lines.
While reviewing the facilities that have been made available in the Public Corner established in F-9 Park, the minister said that 80 kanals of "Public Corner" would be a great facility for the residents of Islamabad to express their views. With the help of Capital Development Authority (CDA), the "Public Corner" would provide a platform to all political and religious parties to hold processions or gatherings. He directed the administration to affix flags of all political parties in "Public Corner" so that each political party could express its views there. He said that after the completion of development works the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani will inaugurate the "Public Corner." The minister directed the administration to established three points in "Public Corner" with a view to providing better facilities to electronic and print media.