Saturday, May 7 2005 15:45 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Fearing a third attempt on the life of President Pervez Musharraf, a Pakistani Federal Minister has said that there was a more powerful group within the Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) and the Army who are his "enemies".

"There is an ISI within the ISI, former more powerful than the original. They were the Godfathers of the Taliban who attacked President Musharraf. Only Army personnel can do this. A third attempt on President Musharraf's life is possible. These are the people who are the enemies of Musharraf," Amir Liaqat Hussain, Minister of State for Religious Affairs said.

Asked to substantiate his allegation of ISI within ISI, he said, "Yes there is plenty of evidence. For example look at the tone and tenor of (Islamists Alliance) Muthahida Majlis Amal (MMA) chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed. From where does he derive the confidence to claim that he would have Mushraff kicked out of the army very soon? Yes he got some people behind him," he said in an interview to 'Daily Times.'

Hussain pointed to assertions by Musharraf that Pakistan faced more internal threats than external ones. "President Musharraf has on a number of occasions told the nation that the real threat to the country was from within. Which means that there exists an internal threat, far greater than the outer one. Well, internal includes the Army."

"A third attempt on President Musharraf's life is also possible. There are people who are enemies of Musharraf. They will not spare me either. My life is in danger too.

President Musharraf should be careful about his life. He has enemies within," Hussain who belongs to Sindh-based Muthahida Quami Movement, (MQM) party said.