Premier intelligence agencies ruling Pak since October 1999

All principal decisions taken since the October 12, 1999 coup in Pakistan have the stamp of approval of premier intelligence agencies, says a Daily Times report.

Islamabad, June 26 : All principal decisions taken since the October 12, 1999 coup in Pakistan have the stamp of approval of premier intelligence agencies, says a Daily Times report.

In the three years from 1999 to 2002 and after the last general elections, intelligence agencies performed an unquestionable overriding role in every major decision that the government took.

The reliance of General Musharraf on the intelligence agencies has been immense and plays the most singular role in his decision-making. It is through the intelligence work that he gets the job done and relies on the conclusions of the spymasters.

The Military Intelligence (MI) and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) are directly answerable to Musharraf by virtue of his position as chief of the Army staff. There had been several instances when the ISI had not been properly reporting to previous prime ministers, who had publicly complained to the effect more than once.

Benazir Bhutto's successful attempt to have her choice nominee as ISI chief was not of much help to her as the agency hardly cooperated to the extent she had desired. Lt-Gen (retd) Hamid Gul, as ISI chief, during her tenure, used to boldly speak against the prime minister of the day.

There has also been no civilian involvement of even a minor nature in the anti-terror campaign even after the restoration of "democracy." It is a Pakistan army affair, being carried out by the support of the intelligence agencies. Even elected representatives become aware of sketchy details of operations when these are made public mostly by foreign media.

Had the intelligence agencies not worked hard as they did prior to the October 2002 general elections, the formation of the Pakistan Muslim League -Quami, which is headed by former premier Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, would have remained a mere unfulfilled dream.

The intelligence agencies also single-handedly handled Nawaz Sharif's departure into exile in December 2000. But at that time, there was pure military rule.

ANI