Pakistan SC orders probe into memo scandal

In a major setback to Pakistan’s embattled leadership, the Supreme Court on Friday ordered a time-bound investigation into the memo scandal, overriding the government’s contention that the issue should be probed by a parliamentary panel.

A nine-judge bench led by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry gave its ruling after hearing arguments by the government’s law officers and several petitioners, including opposition PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, who had asked the apex court to probe the memogate scandal.

“The court has established a commission for the investigation into the memo case. The Chief Justice of the Baluchistan High Court will lead this commission,” Attorney General Maulvi Anwar-ul-Haq told reporters outside the court.