Government spokesman contradicts baseless rumors regarding French submarines deal

ISLAMABAD : A spokesman of the government has taken serious exception to the contents of a news item published in a section of the press alleging involvement of President Asif Ali Zardari in purchase of French submarines by Pakistan Navy and assassination of three French nationals in a terrorist attack in Karachi in 2002.

Commenting on the news item, the spokesman said that the purchase of equipment by the Armed Forces of Pakistan is done through a proper competitive process under the supervision of the Ministry of Defence. Mr. Asif Ali Zardari was neither the President nor the Prime Minister nor the Defence Minister when the submarines referred in the news item were purchased.

The Accountability Bureau investigated the then ‘Admiral’ responsible for this purchase. But the investigation authorities against Mr. Asif Ali Zardari could establish no allegation of misdoing.

The spokesman pointed out that the French President, Mr. Sarkozy is on record as having said on July 11, 2009 that the charge of payment of commissions at the time of the sale of submarines to Pakistan was “ridiculous, grotesque and a tale”. These remarks of the French President were published in the Le Monde, Paris on July 11, 2009.

Regarding allegation about the killing of three French nationals in Karachi, the spokesman said that President Asif Ali Zardari was in prison in 2002 when the unfortunate incident took place. “This indicates the motive behind leveling such baseless allegations”, the spokesman said and added, “How can a person in prison arrange such high profile killings”.

“Allegations of kickbacks and involvement in killing of French nationals against the person of the President are, therefore, highly unfortunate and seem to be part of malicious campaign launched against the Head of State of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, “ the spokesman said.