PPP to disband political wings of dictators-inclined spy agencies

Islamabad, May 31 : Ruling party in Pakistan, the PPP is learnt to have decided to bring about a legislative action to disband political wings of all intelligence agencies, including the ISI and the MI, which have over the past nine years acquired notoriety for carrying out dirty business for military dictators (read President Pervez Musharraf and his Armymen).

The government is considering amendments to hold the security agencies accountable to the elected government, besides disbandment of their political wings, reported The News.

Through the amendments, all military and judicial officers would be required to file annual assets and income declarations like the parliamentarians to make them accountable to the public. Through an act of parliament, a National Democracy Commission shall be established to promote and develop a democratic culture in the country.

Besides, Senator Raza Rabbani has also proposed to party co-chairperson Asif Ai Zardari a comprehensive legislative paper for the implementation of the Charter of Democracy (CoD), said a source in the Zardari House.

He further said that a number of constitutional amendments proposed by Rabbani had already been incorporated in the constitutional package while Zardari would possibly call another meeting of his legal aides to settle the conflicting issues put forward by Naek and Rabbani.

Raza Rabbani, as compared to Farooq Naek, is believed to have a much better comprehension of the law and the Constitution, but the party co-chairman has given Naek the lead role for the task that is considered well beyond the capabilities of the law minister.

The source added that the Rabbani's paper on the CoD implementation sought amendments to the rules of business not only to rein in the spy agencies, but also to de-politicise them by disbanding their political cells.

Through an amendment to these rules, he also seeks the formation of a committee, as envisaged in the CoD, to cut waste and bloat in the armed forces and the security agencies in the interest of defence and security of the country. All senior postings in the spy agencies would also be made with the approval of the government through respective ministries.

ANI