News
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
SC moved for removal of ISI chief
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court was requested on Monday to direct the government to immediately remove ISI Director General Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha in response to the ongoing memogate controversy. The petition was filed by Communist Party of Pakistan Chairman Engineer Jameel Ahmad Malik under Article 184 (3) of the constitution, making the federation through defence secretary, ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha, Omar Warraich, a correspondent of The Independent and Times, Islamabad Press Club and private channel anchor Hamid Mir as respondents. The petitioner requested the court to order the federation, which appointed Ahmad Shuja Pasha as the ISI chief, to immediately suspend him (Pasha) until disposal of this petition. Citing various judgements of the apex court, the petitioner pleaded that the continuance of Lt Gen Pasha as the ISI director general be declared to be in direct contravention of Article 244 of the constitution and the Pakistan Army Act, 1952 and he be removed from the post. He stated that it was widely reported in the print as well as the electronic media in the country and abroad that Pakistan’s powerful spy agency chief Lt Gen Pasha had sought and got permission from senior Arab leaders to oust President Asif Ali Zardari, who was the supreme commander of the armed forces. He said neither this allegation had been denied by Pasha nor by the ISPR until today. He said that the news about Gen Pasha’s alleged steps for ousting Zardari was alarming and it showed involvement of Gen Pasha and the army in politics, which was contrary to their oath taken under Article 244 of the constitution. He said that the secret meeting of Gen Pasha with the Arab leaders for taking them into confidence about the removal of President Zardari clearly came under the purview of politics and in this way the ISI chief had hatched a conspiracy against an elected government and the president, thus he deserved a court martial under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952 on this count. hasnaat malik
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk