He further said that there are numerous precedents in other countries where probing agencies have conducted investigations against heads of state. In this regard, he cited the examples of former US Presidents Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon who were investigated by the US investigation agency while they were still in the White House.
He said the issue of Mansoor Ijaz's memo is of a serious nature, adding that Pakistan ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani, who has allegedly asked the Pakistani-American businessman to assist him in privately delivering his message to Admiral Mike Mullen, should be given a chance to prove his innocence. If the story of the memo is found to be baseless, Ijaz should be punished accordingly.
According to Aitzaz, President Asif Ali Zardari's first term will end after one-and-a-half years and that he can be re-elected by the incumbent national and provincial assemblies as well as Senate for another five years in case he decides to resign on this issue.
Replying to a question, he said: "There is no chance of a military coup because the courts are functioning independently." In this respect, he quoted the recent talk of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry with a delegation of National Defence University. Aitzaz said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNAs and MPAs will not resign for it will be a setback to the party in Senate election, adding that by-elections would be held in the country if PML-N parliamentarians resign.