Sunday, July 27, 2008

Pakistan Gov Flip-Flops on Control of Intelligence Agencies

Via Gulf News -

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.

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