Amir Mir

Lahore: The PPP government has decided in principle to introduce a legislation to disband the political wings of the notorious Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI) in a bid to end the involvement of Pakistani intelligence agencies in politics.

According to government sources, curtailing the role of the intelligence agencies in the country’s political affairs is a part of the government’s proposed package of constitutional amendments likely to be tabled before the parliament for approval soon after the budget session.

The sources say the government is considering amendments to the rules of business to hold the intelligence and security agencies, including the ISI and the MI, accountable to the elected government, besides disbandment of their political wings.

Through an amendment, the sources say, the new government seeks the formation of a committee to cut waste and bloat in the armed forces and the security agencies in the interest of defence and security of the country.

According to the proposal, all senior postings in the spy agencies – be it the MI, the ISI or the IB — would be made with the approval of the government through respective ministries.

Before bringing in the legislation, the chief of the army staff would also be taken into confidence, the sources say, adding that the government belieevs it is the appropriate time when army chief General Ashfaq Kayani has himself expressed his resolve repeatedly to depoliticise the army.

After assuming command of the 6,00,000-strong Pakistan army in December 2007, Kayani’s first order to his officers in January was to refrain from holding meetings with politicians, saying they had no role to play in politics and should pay heed to their professional responsibilities — safeguarding the geographical frontiers of Pakistan.

In February, Kayani ordered the withdrawal of 3,000 officers from postings on deputation with various civilian departments.

The ISI was accused of manipulating the 1990 elections in favour of Nawaz Sharif ’s Islami Jamhoori Ittehad, an alliance of Islamist parties, and a case in this regard, filed by retired air chief marshal Asghar Khan, is pending in the Supreme Court.

Source : DNA