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Had directed ISI to close political cell: Musharraf
[Dawn] Pakistain's intelligence agencies were told by former President  Pervez PervMusharraf ... former dictator of Pakistain, who was less dictatorial and corrupt than any Pak civilian government to date ... to "stay away" from politics and stop their interference in the country's political affairs, the former president said in an interview. Former President and Chief of Army Staff General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf told the BBC that he had directed then Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt-Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani ... four star general, current Chief of Army Staff of the Mighty Pak Army. Kayani is the former Director General of ISI... -- who is now the current Army chief -- that his institution's interference in politics should end. However, nothing needs reforming like other people's bad habits... Musharraf added that the directions were only verbal and not written.  "This wasn't a formal order; but we had decided that the ISI will not interfere in the political playground," the BBCUrdu quoted Musharraf as saying.The former Army chief added that this was the reason that there was no rigging or intervention during the 2008 elections, and neither did any such complaints arise. About the Asghar Khan case, Musharraf said that it was creating a rift between state institutions, which was problematic for Pakistain. He said that we were creating problems for ourselves by staying in the past. Musharraf added that if he did have to travel back into the past, then the cases of East Pakistain's separation, Ayub Khan and even Liaquat Ali Khan's liquidation should also be reopened. He said that we should focus on the present and the future instead of the past. The former president added that it appeared as if the military men were being targeted. "In my opinion, a conspiracy is being brewed to weaken Pakistain because the Army holds a central role in Pakistain and if it is weakened then the state is also weakened," said Musharraf. Posted by: Fred 2012-11-15 |
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