Former IB chief claims operation 'Midnight Jackal' launched to dislodge Benazir Govt.

Lahore, Aug.28 (ANI): Former Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief Brigadier (retired) Imtiaz has said that the 'Operation Midnight Jackal' was targeted at dislodging the Benazir Bhutto government.

In an interview with a private television channel, Brigadier Imtiaz disclosed that the then Army Chief General Aslam Beg had hatched the conspiracy to destabilize the Bhutto government, as he believed that its policies were contrary to those of the Army.

He claimed that the day Bhutto assumed charge, General Beg and the then President Ghulam Ishaq Khan started discussing the possibility of replacing her.

Imtiaz said his failure to refuse to obey General Beg's orders led to his retirement from the Armed Forces.

The Daily Times quoted him, as saying that President Ghulam Ishaq had offered him to join his 'gang' and offered him privileges.

When asked that why he maintained silence over the conspiracy despite knowing so much, Imtiaz said he did not wanted to defame his institution.

Brigadier Imtiaz along with Former Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) operative Major Amir had allegedly conspired with other political leaders to bring down the first Benazir Bhutto government in 1989.

Both the ISI operatives had launched an operation 'Midnight Jackal' to make the then PPP Members of National Assembly (MNA) support a no-confidence motion against their own prime minister (Benazir Bhutto).

The then Director-General of Pakistan's Intelligence Bureau, Masood Sharif Khattak has also said that both Major Amir and Brigadier Imtiaz were caught on videotapes persuading PPP MNA's to topple the government. (ANI)