No threat to govt if 'N' quits: Mukhtar

Replying to a question, Mukhtar said he stood by his statement to a private channel that President George W Bush, during his Monday’s meeting with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, voiced his concern about ISI’s role and asked about leaked information that tipped militants to surveillance efforts by Western intelligence services.

To another question, the defence minister said that by demanding him to appear before a standing senate committee, Senator Nisar Memon was only abusing his powers. There was no need for him to appear before the committee as “I standby by whatever I have said.”

Mukhtar also accused the media of indulging in sensationalism. The media, particularly TV channels, were generally not reporting news but appeared to be campaigning to advance their own policies. As regards restoration of the sacked judges, he said the judiciary in the past had failed to come up to the expectation of the people. Only judges who were capable of delivering justice should be brought in.