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Islamabad: The Pakistan government's notification on Sunday, reversing an announcement made a day before to place the two top intelligence agencies under the interior ministry, has led to further confusion with a former top spy saying a conspiracy was foiled.
The government on Saturday issued a notification saying the prime minister has approved giving the interior ministry control of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Agency and the Intelligence Bureau (IB).
The notification, issued on a day Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani left for a crucial meeting with President George W. Bush, was seen mostly as a positive step and a move towards complete civilian rule.
It said: "In terms of Rule 3(3) of the Rules of Business of 1973, the prime minister has approved the placement of the Intelligence Bureau and the Inter-Services Intelligence under the administrative, financial and operational control of the Interior Division with immediate effect."
However, early yesterday the government issued another notification saying that the earlier order was misunderstood and the ISI would remain under the prime minister.
Answerable to premier
Traditionally and according to the government record, the ISI has been under financial and administrative control of the defence ministry but was answerable to the prime minister. "This may be in papers but everyone knows the reality from where the ISI takes orders and who heads it," Lt Gen (retd) Talat Masood said He said it was an excellent move to bring the ISI under the civilian rule. "But let's see what happens now."
The early morning notification by the information ministry stressed extending cooperation between the interior ministry and the ISI in matters like war against terror and internal security.
It said that more details in this regard will be given in a detailed notification -creating more confusion and the media was left guessing what the third notification can be.
Many politicians, civil society representatives and intelligentsia termed the earlier notification a right step in the right direction.
"It is always good to place institutions under the civilian rule but the present government seems to be taking every step in haste and without discussing it at proper forums," Mushahid Hussain, former information minister said.
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