Dear Readers,
It is our great misfortune that over the last many years numerous challenges have continued to pound the ramparts of the State while those in power have never done enough to stop the rot – domestic terrorism, economic meltdown compounded by rising oil prices and downward spike of the Rupee, alarming food shortage causing inordinate price rises, manufacturing shutdowns force-multiplying unemployment, serious separatist challenges in Balochistan, endemic insecurity among the masses because of eroding confidence in the political leadership, etc. With the buying power of salaries eroding rapidly and food prices inflated beyond reach of the common man, can apocalypse be far behind when a man may see his children go hungry? To top this, Pak-US relations face existential problems amid deep suspicion of each other and the exchange of accusations and counter-accusations has become a matter of routine today thereby underlying the extent of mistrust on both sides.
There is no shortage of Pakistan’s enemies, and they, as all enemies are apt to, desire nothing but our disintegration and/or Balkanisation, at the very least to disarm us of our nuclear assets. Look at the logic and arguments denying Muslim Iran nuclear potential – the same arguments could hold good for Pakistan, being the only Muslim State having nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them, we could be targetted next. There is a nexus between these enemies and the misguided extremists (and others) who have become pawns of enemy intelligence agencies with one objective, to put the Pakistan State under pressure primarily by engaging the Armed Forces internally and tarring its image. It is therefore not surprising why the ISI has become everyone’s favourite punching bag and is usually tarred and feathered, especially by the western media without verifying facts. A look at how Mehrangate has unfolded, at times bordering on the bizarre, and the ‘army bashing’ and allegations that followed gives the impression to many that a definite ‘agenda’ is being followed and there is motive behind the drama. For the benefit of readers I am reproducing my article “MIXING FACTS WITH ILLUSION”.
The so-called ISI case by the Supreme Court (SC) case has nothing to do with ISI, the ISI did not distribute of funds to politicians in 1990. Even our respected Chief Justice (CJ) is now taking this perception to be a fact.
Ms Benazir brought Lt Gen S R Kallue out of retirement to head the ISI in 1988. When her govt was dismissed by President Ghulam Ishaq Khan in August 1990, Gen Kallue resigned immediately. During the Caretaker period, an “Election Cell” in the Presidency tried to thwart Ms Benazir’s bid to win the elections again. Besides other measures resorted to by the “Election Cell”, some politicians were earmarked for financial support. Even with Gen Kallue out of the ISI, the powers-that-be opted against using it as a conduit for distribution of the illegal cash. Director General Military Intelligence (DGMI) Maj Gen Asad Durrani was directed by the COAS Gen Aslam Beg to arrange the clandestine disbursement.
Asad Durrani tasked Regional Director MI in Karachi, Brig Hamid Saeed, for spreading the largesse in Sindh and Balochistan. The MI officers assumed the Rs 14 crore that came into the specially opened six accounts came from GHQ. Both Hamid Saeed and Mir Akbar had never met Younus Habib, they were unaware he was the source of the funds. Hamid Saeed is clear he never met him in his whole life. The illegal transactions took place from mid Sep 1990 when the funds were received (only about Rs 3 crore went to political figures, Rs 36 lacs went to non-political figures). It ended 5-6 weeks later around the 3rd week of Oct 1990 when the balance of the Rs 14 crore, approx. Rs 6.50 crore, was sent back to GHQ (Rs 4 crore being returned earlier). One of the reasons for the confusion between perception and fact is because by mid Oct 1990 Asad Durrani was promoted to Lt Gen and posted as DG ISI. To add to that, Mir Akbar, who actually operated the six accounts and personally disbursed most of the funds, replaced Col Sajjad the ISI Head in Karachi, on posting from MI to ISI on Asad Durrani’s request. Around the end of Oct, Hamid Saeed rendered the final accounting to Durrani about the funds disbursed, the balance money was refunded. This was definitely not an ISI operation, MI officers were involved but more as individuals rather than the MI as an institution. Respectfully, the SC should correct this wrong perception.
While in service all the three MI officers carried good reputation for being upright soldiers of good integrity and character. Though the instructions came from the COAS through the DGMI, it did fall in the grey area of being an “unlawful command”, these officers must have been convinced that the operation was necessary, because of the request for “in camera” proceedings one can only guess that national security reasons will eventually be cited as the “extenuating circumstances”. A meticulous person of outstanding merit, Hamid Saeed is incapable of telling a lie. Though he has had five stents put in his heart in a two stage operation only a couple of months ago, the Supreme (SC) should call this outstanding soldier (and citizen) to testify, his Lordships will find this dispassionate man’s heart in the right place.
Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan’s statement that with Lt Gen Shuja Pasha retiring Imran Khan would find politics tough going was disturbing and disappointing. This implies ISI, and specifically Shuja Pasha, was supporting Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI). The way Mian Nawaz Sharif was treated when he was removed as PM was unacceptable, therefore the grudge that Nisar’s boss carries is quite understandable, but it should be for the then military hierarchy, why does Mian Sahib continue attacking the whole Army? And an Army far removed from that in 1999? If he ever becomes PM again, will he disband the Army just because Gen Mahmud treated him shabbily? With great potential not only for himself but for the country, Ch Nisar is very special for many reasons, as one of our outstanding politicians, he has done commendable work as Chairman Public Accounts Committee. Besides being unfair particularly given his military heritage, it is quite unbecoming of him to disparage an outstanding soldier of such impeccable character and integrity as Shuja Pasha. Professional soldier to the core, Shuja Pasha never wanted to go into intelligence ever, he only took over as DG ISI very reluctantly, and only because Gen Kayani insisted. As the person heading the most vilified intelligence entity in the world, being subjected to continuous motivated campaign of the most vicious kind comes with the job. Shuja Pasha chose silence in keeping with his requirements of his job and self-effacing personality.
Facts can be embellished by illusion to create doubts about credibility. When Mathew Green from Financial Times (FT) asked my best guess a few weeks ago about whether Shuja Pasha would get an extension as DG ISI and if not, who would possibly be his replacement, I stated what I knew at first hand, that Shuja Pasha was dead set against an extension. The new DG ISI was a no-brainer based on pure logic (almost everyone else had reached the same conclusion), Lt Gen Ejaz Chaudhry was promoted to three-star rank as far back as October 2011 but still in place in a two-star appointment he would most probably replace Zaheerul Islam as Commander 5 Corps who would become DG ISI. Ejaz’s tremendous Karachi expertise as the DG Rangers was another plus point. I did mention in passing to Mathew Green that Zaheer had a distant relationship in India with Gen Shah Nawaz Khan of Indian National Army (INA) fame. Next thing I knew Geo TV was asking me about the supposed Shahrukh Khan relationship to Zaheer. I contradicted blatant and motivated lie vehemently. It is pathetic that my contradiction was not repeated. Incidentally a news item appearing in Khaleej Times that Gen Durrani had mentioned in his affidavit in the Supreme Court that money was paid to Khalida Zia by the ISI for the elections in Bangladesh is another total fabrication. Is it a coincidence that all such lies emanate from somewhere in India?
Imran Khan has broad support across the body politic of Pakistan, while there are miles to go before he wins an election, the major parties are hoping that if the lie is repeated enough times it will be taken to be the truth. This is most unfair to the masses in Pakistan who have put their aspirations on this their biggest hope against rampant corruption and discrimination in the body politic of Pakistan. However one factor one cannot ignore, almost all the entire rank and file of the Armed Forces individually and collectively seem to also rest their hopes for the future in Imran Khan. Rather than any motivated instructions by the military hierarchy downwards to the rank and file to support Imran, the pressure is the other way around, it is flowing upwards.
With apologies to “Pepsi”, the bottom line about the alleged support of the ISI for Imran Khan is pure canard, “there is nothing official about it”!
M. Ikram Sehgal
