Pak govt carries out revamp of powerful ISI

Last Updated: Wednesday, August 12, 2009, 15:03

Tags: powerful ISI, Pak govt, revamp

Islamabad: Pakistan's powerful spy agency ISI has been restructured by the government by weeding out 32 senior officers of the rank of Brigadiers and Colonels in a move to make it trim, a media report said on Wednesday.

The retrenchment exercise in the agency has been carried out to make it "more efficient and vibrant", The News daily claimed, saying that the process will continue for two years.

Thirty-two officers of the rank of Brigadier and Colonel have been retired from the agency and "other officers who have not proved their utility" will be shown the door in months to come, the report said.

The report said the revamp had been undertaken as the spy agency had expanded out of proportion in the recent years and that many of the top level officers were continuing to serve in the organisation despite attaining superannuation.

The report made it clear there was no pressure for effecting the revamp and the agency would continue to be under the command of the Army.

The report said the restructuring was an effort to bring into the ISI "energetic and more dedicated personnel" who can "live up to the challenges of the modern age".

The powerful spy agency had recently faced flak from the American lawmakers who alleged that ISI was still maintaining contacts with Taliban and other militant organisations, a charge sought to be strongly refuted by the Army.

Bureau Report

First Published: Wednesday, August 12, 2009, 15:03