Pakistan ISI: Why is ISI being opposed in Pakistan? , Pakistan ISI: Why is ISI being opposed in Pakistan?

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lekhaka-Bikram Upadhyay

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Published: Thursday, March 28, 2024, 17:35 (IST)

Pakistan ISI: Many judges of Islamabad High Court have currently stood up against Pakistan’s military intelligence agency ISI. He has written a public letter accusing the ISI that the agency’s officers are repeatedly interfering in court cases and adopting all kinds of tactics, including kidnapping, to take arbitrary decisions. This is not the first time that a rebellion against ISI has been seen in Pakistan itself. Rather it is a long list.

what is the latest incident

Six of the eight sitting judges of the Islamabad High Court have sent a letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan seeking answers from the Supreme Judicial Council on what they should do when judges become victims of blackmail, harassment and coercion. These judges have asked the Judicial Council what they expect from them to regain their independence and improve the deteriorating image of their institution in the public eye.

The judges who signed the letter have also cited the recent decision of the Supreme Court and demanded that a judicial conference be called on all these issues. Also, the case of forced termination of service of former IHC judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui should also be looked into in this conference. It is noteworthy that Judge Siddiqui was ousted from the judiciary in October 2018 on the complaint of ISI in cases related to PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif.

It is clear that the judges also want the Supreme Judicial Council to consider what the serving judges are being forced to endure and also advise what the judges should do in the face of such situations. The ball is now in the court of Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa and he is under tremendous pressure at the moment.

ISI’s tactics

It is alleged that ISI has got a judge’s bedroom spied with a secret camera. A relative of another judge was picked up and tortured to make an arbitrary statement. Two judges have alleged that there was immense pressure from the ISI for reconsideration of a high-profile case. For this, intelligence officers started harassing his friends and family.

A district and sessions judge said a firecracker bomb was thrown into his house to scare him. Judges also say that when they complain about this to politicians, they ignore them. The account of abuse of power by the ISI given by six sitting judges is difficult to ignore.

There is an earthquake in Pakistan at present regarding this. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif is somehow trying to calm this matter. He himself is currently in touch with the Chief Justice. All eyes are on ISI to see what its next step is going to be.

Imran has also made serious allegations against ISI

This is not the first time that some serious allegation has been made against ISI. Jailed PTI chief Imran Khan had even accused PDM’s former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and a senior intelligence officer of trying to assassinate him and demanded their resignation.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) had also given a formal statement on this. He had said that Imran Khan was making irresponsible and baseless allegations against the said military officer without any evidence. The PTI chief had even claimed that the ISI had taken over the judicial complex in Islamabad the night before he was to attend the Toshakhana case hearing.

ISI’s name also in the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif

The name of this intelligence agency officer also came up in the case of famous Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif who was shot dead by police in Kenya. Arshad was a harsh critic of the army and had fled the country citing threat to his life from the security agencies. He was later assassinated in Kenya on 23 October 2022. Top ISI officer Major General Faisal Naseer was said to be involved in this massacre by people from Pakistan. Imran Khan even said that Arshad was severely tortured before he was killed. But no action was taken against that ISI officer.

ISI and political alliance

Actually, there are about 14 intelligence organizations of different types in Pakistan. These also include IB, Home Ministry, NACTA, ISI, MI, Air Force MI and Navy MI. But ISI is the most controversial and always remains in the headlines for its misdeeds. It is said that ISI controls the politics of Pakistan. It directs most of the leaders in its own way, even though it is a military organization.

The ISI chief is reportedly selected by the Prime Minister and the ISI has its own budget. The ISI Chief sits in on meetings of major corps commanders. ISI men are mostly in civilian dress, but wear military uniforms on formal occasions.

Some ISI officers hold very important positions. Most of the work of ISI is to maintain its influence in all types of government organizations including the army. It is believed that one of his spies is deployed in every government organization. Usually their job is to investigate anti-state activities as well as irregularities, but ISI people are active even in the Ministry of External Affairs.

ISI is also notorious for controversial work or espionage activities. Almost all ISI regional in-charges work autocratically. Anyone who speaks against the leadership in the army is immediately rounded up and picked up and then terrorized and straightened out.

ISI has the complete record of the political history of Pakistan and its officers go to any extent for their objectives and tasks. More than a dozen journalists have also narrated the story of ISI torture. But in army dominated Pakistan, ISI does not make any difference.

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