Islamabad: Pakistan`s ISI has always had a
political wing and the country`s top leadership will be informed about the spy agency`s policies by its new chief Lt Gen Zahir-ul-Islam, Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar
has said.
Mukhtar made the remarks against the backdrop of a case
in the Supreme Court against the funding of politicians by the
ISI before the 1990 General Election in a bid to prevent the
Pakistan People’s Party from coming to power.
Banker Yunus Habid has testified in court that he
arranged Rs 1.48 billion for the military, out of which about
Rs 400 million was distributed among politicians opposed to
the PPP.
The new ISI chief, scheduled to take over on March 18,
will inform the President and Prime Minister about the
agency`s policies and requirements, Mukhtar told reporters
during an interaction at his hometown of Gujrat in Punjab
province yesterday.
The premier will consider any proposal made by the ISI
chief regarding relations with the US, he said.
Referring to the distribution of money among politicians
by the ISI in 1990, popularly known as the "Mehran Bank
scandal", Mukhtar said cases should be registered against all
persons involved in the matter, especially those who had
received funds.
"The Mehran Bank scandal proves that the PML-N received
money and (Punjab Chief Minister) Shahbaz Sharif was paid the
amount through a bank," he said.
He said it was ironical that the PML-N, which had
allegedly received money from the ISI, was now accusing
President Asif Ali Zardari of corruption.
PTI
