By Tariq Butt in The News The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has heaved a sigh of relief over the departure of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen (retd) Ahmed Shuja Pasha and boasts of forcing his exit, despite claims of Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan that President Zardari wanted badly to retain him. At the same time, in the heart of hearts Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani is blowing his own trumpet that by using his authority as chief executive he has refused another extension to Pasha, who otherwise was hardly interested in continuing. If the PML-N was publicly campaigning against further extension to Pasha and is content over his leaving, Gilani is not less thrilled over the change in what he once openly dubbed as “the state within the state”. Both had no love lost for Pasha in their own way, and had been giving vent to their opposition at the time of their own choosing. “Two one-year extensions were more than enough for the spymaster, and there was no need to retain him further because it would have blocked promotions,” a senior PML-N leader told The News on condition of anonymity. When the prime minister, cornered by the Memogate scandal, declared a few weeks back that the government’s position would improve, it would surmount crises and the season of rumour-mongering would end in March, he had in mind the key appointment of the chief spymaster and the election to half of the Senate during this month. Top PML-N stalwarts especially leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan openly accused Pasha of sponsoring Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and prevailing upon several politicians to join his party, a charge always vehemently denied. The PTI chief says he would quit politics if it were ever proved that he has taken even a single penny from the ISI or other agencies. The PML-N became exceptionally panicky after Imran Khan’s Lahore public meeting which sent shutters down its spine. Its nervousness further heightened as hordes of political figures rushed to join Imran Khan’s tsunami. Matching this development, the PML-N paced up its onslaught against Pasha. However, there was a strange logic behind claims of certain PML-N leaders during private discussions with this correspondent. The chief” (General Ashfaque Parvez Kayani) “is not behind Imran Khan and it is only Pasha who is promoting him,” one leader told The News. It is generally believed by all and sundry that it is beyond question that the ISI director general would do anything in such important matters without an unambiguous nod and consent of the army chief. However, according to PML-N sources it is a fact that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Chaudhry Nisar have excellent relations with Kayani and that is why they have frequently met him, openly or quietly. The chief minister has always publicly spoken high of the army chief. Chaudhry Nisar is known to have somewhat strained relations with Pasha for different reasons. The two had a tough exchange during the in camera session of the parliament on May 14, 2011 on the US Navy Seals’ raid on Osama bin Laden’s hideout in Abbottabad. As the expiration of Pasha’s extension approached and a decision was to be taken on the appointment, Chaudhry Nisar strongly opposed his continuation at least twice in the past four days. A PML-N source said this had the approval of the Sharif brothers, who too were convinced that Pasha had been assisting Imran Khan to cut their party to size particularly in Punjab.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Jul 2013 06:36:06 +0000
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