PML-N, PPP, PTI leaders express ‘surprise’ over PM’s decision about ISI

Published: 11:40 PM, 4 Jun, 2022
PML-N, PPP, PTI leaders express ‘surprise’ over PM’s decision about ISI
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Senior leaders of the coalition government and the opposition have expressed a ‘surprise’ over Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s decision to give a special vetting agency (SVA) status to Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) a day ago.

According to the 24News HD TV channel, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader and former chairman Senate Raza Rabbani criticized the PM’s decision by declaring it a ‘surprising’ act.

PPP leader Raza Rabbani said giving the right to scrutinize promotions and appointments of government officers to ISI is very surprising for him.

He said a comprehensive law for the vetting of civil servants was already present so no more process of screening them is needed from the ISI.

He said the civil servants are already working under pressure due to the NAB law and the courts have also overlooked agency reports in their decision.

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) central leader and one of the prominent think tanks Senator Pervaiz Rasheed has said in a tweet that if the limits of ISI have been expanded then the institution should also be accountable to the parliament.

While the opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry also expressed his consensus with the ruling PML-N’s Pervaiz Rasheed in a responding tweet and emphasized if ISI’s ambit is expanded then it should be accountable to the parliament.

Endorsing the statement of Fawad Chaudhry, the PTI leader Sheri Mazari has said in her tweet, “Absolutely correct. This debate is critical for the future of democracy in Pakistan.”

Human Rights Commission Pakistan (HRCP) has also expressed its deep concern on the PM’s decision and said in a tweet that the HRCP is deeply concerned by PM Shehbaz's decision to task the ISI officially with screening civil servants before inductions, appointments and postings. The role of the military in civilian affairs needs to recede if Pakistan is to move forward as a democracy.