Billions won't be spent on 'viceroy' Ijaz's security: Gilani

Islamabad, Jan 23 (ANI): Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said billions would not be spent on the security of Pakistani American businessman Mansoor Ijaz, the key person in the Memo Gate scandal.

He made the comment after sarcastically saying that it seemed like a viceroy, and not Ijaz, was coming to Pakistan.

"Mansoor cannot be provided security and protocol of head of a state", The Nation quoted Gilani, as saying.

"Under the constitution, providing security to Ijaz is the duty of the Interior Ministry as and when required the Rangers and Army can also be summoned," he added.

Gilani expressed disappointment over the fact that Ijaz repeatedly spoke negatively about the Pakistani establishment.

Earlier, Rehman Malik had said that it was only Pakistan's interior ministry, and not the Army or the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) that would provide protection to Ijaz during his upcoming visit to the country to testify over the Memo Gate scandal.

Malik stressed that the ISI is only an intelligence agency and not a security organization, the Daily Times reports.

However, he said: "If army's security is needed for someone, there is a constitutional way to arrange it."

Malik also said that Ijaz's name would be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) if the Parliamentary Committee investigating the memo scandal orders so. (ANI)