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Parliament to increase scrutiny of intelligence agencies
By Syed Irfan Raza
Wednesday, 08 Oct, 2008
ISLAMABAD: The government will try to have a consensus in joint sitting of the parliament that all intelligence and security agencies of the country should work under some system of accountability, sources in the government told Dawn on Tuesday. They said all security and intelligence agencies are likely to be under immense criticism in in-camera sitting of the Parliament to be held on Wednesday.
The joint sitting of the parliament would be attended by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Senators, MNAs and officials of security and intelligence.
They will be briefed by heads of intelligence agencies about the law and order situation, war on terror and situation in tribal areas of the country.
Government believes that the war on terror can be put to the right direction if the all intelligence and security agencies become real subservient to the parliament and the government, the sources said.
It is believed that the countrys intelligence agencies often conduct clandestine operations without taking the government in confidence and thus the root cause of the problems could be addressed.
In a bid to put Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) under administrative, financial and operational control of the Interior Ministry, the government had issued a notification on July 26 but later the order had been held in abeyance due to unknown reasons.
The sources said it would be an opportunity for the parliamentarian to ask several questions to the heads of intelligence agencies that how they work and under whose orders.
The basic purpose to hold joint sitting of the parliament was to apprise the parliamentarians about security situation and to have consensus that how war on terror can be fought and how the country can be rid of the devastating effects of terrorism.
Some of the opposition leaders were of the view that the holding joint sitting of the parliament and giving in-camera briefing to the parliamentarians will not serve the purpose unless the issue was comprehensively debated in the parliament to evolve consensus to tackle the situation.
They were of the view that nation should not kept ignorant about the facts that either the country has been fighting its own war in tribal areas.
Meanwhile, three Services Chiefs called on President Asif Ali Zardari at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Tuesday and discussed security situation.
Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani, and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tanveer Mehmood Ahmed paid separate calls on the President and briefed him about the operational preparedness of the countrys armed forces.
The President said that the armed forces will be equipped with modern weapons to enhance their professional capabilities.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Noman Bashir also separately called on the President who congratulated him on assuming the charge of his new responsibilities and hoped that under his able leadership Pakistan Navy will grow stronger.
The Chief of Navel Staff thanked the President for reposing confidence in him and said that he will try his best to come up to his expectations.
By Syed Irfan Raza
Wednesday, 08 Oct, 2008
ISLAMABAD: The government will try to have a consensus in joint sitting of the parliament that all intelligence and security agencies of the country should work under some system of accountability, sources in the government told Dawn on Tuesday. They said all security and intelligence agencies are likely to be under immense criticism in in-camera sitting of the Parliament to be held on Wednesday.
The joint sitting of the parliament would be attended by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Senators, MNAs and officials of security and intelligence.
They will be briefed by heads of intelligence agencies about the law and order situation, war on terror and situation in tribal areas of the country.
Government believes that the war on terror can be put to the right direction if the all intelligence and security agencies become real subservient to the parliament and the government, the sources said.
It is believed that the countrys intelligence agencies often conduct clandestine operations without taking the government in confidence and thus the root cause of the problems could be addressed.
In a bid to put Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) under administrative, financial and operational control of the Interior Ministry, the government had issued a notification on July 26 but later the order had been held in abeyance due to unknown reasons.
The sources said it would be an opportunity for the parliamentarian to ask several questions to the heads of intelligence agencies that how they work and under whose orders.
The basic purpose to hold joint sitting of the parliament was to apprise the parliamentarians about security situation and to have consensus that how war on terror can be fought and how the country can be rid of the devastating effects of terrorism.
Some of the opposition leaders were of the view that the holding joint sitting of the parliament and giving in-camera briefing to the parliamentarians will not serve the purpose unless the issue was comprehensively debated in the parliament to evolve consensus to tackle the situation.
They were of the view that nation should not kept ignorant about the facts that either the country has been fighting its own war in tribal areas.
Meanwhile, three Services Chiefs called on President Asif Ali Zardari at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Tuesday and discussed security situation.
Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani, and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tanveer Mehmood Ahmed paid separate calls on the President and briefed him about the operational preparedness of the countrys armed forces.
The President said that the armed forces will be equipped with modern weapons to enhance their professional capabilities.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Noman Bashir also separately called on the President who congratulated him on assuming the charge of his new responsibilities and hoped that under his able leadership Pakistan Navy will grow stronger.
The Chief of Navel Staff thanked the President for reposing confidence in him and said that he will try his best to come up to his expectations.
