ISI chief gets 1-yr extension in Pak

PM Yousuf Raza Gilani endorsed Pak Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayanis decision to grant a one-year extension to ISI chief.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday endorsed Pakistan Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayanis decision to grant a one-year extension to ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha.

A brief statement issued by the Prime Ministers House said Gilani had approved the summary or official proposal for extending the service of the ISI chief.

Gilani had appointed Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha as Director General of ISI for another year with effect from the date of his retirement,the statement said.

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However,sources said that the Prime Ministers action was merely a formality as the powerful army chief had already granted an extension to Pasha on Tuesday.

During a recent interaction with senior Pakistani journalists,Kayani had even said that he could grant such an extension without referring the matter to the Prime Minister or the government.

Media reports quoted military sources as confirming that Kayani had given the ISI chief a one-year extension ahead of his retirement on March 18.

Senior officials also told the media that after extending Pashs service,Kayani informed the Prime Minister that he wants Lt Gen Pasha to continue as the Director General of ISI.

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Some officials contended the army chief has the power to grant a one-year extension to any three-star general without seeking the approval of the government but Pashas case was different as the ISI comes under the Prime Minister.

Though Pasha (58),would reach the age of retirement on March 18,more than a year remains in his tenure as a three-star general.

Security analysts also told the Dawn newspaper that Pasha was directly involved in major missions,the most important of these being the security establishments decision to systematically eradicate the militancy culture and jehadi organisations from the country.

Regarded by most serving and retired military officials as an upright and dedicated intelligence official,Pasha is also considered a close confidant of Kayani.

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He served as Director General Military Operations at the army headquarters before being appointed the ISI chief in September 2008.

Pasha is the fourth three-star general to be granted an extension by Kayani in recent weeks on the grounds that their continuation in service is necessary for national security and the war against terror.

Earlier,Peshawar-based Corps Commander Lt Gen Masood Aslam,who is overseeing operations against militants in northwest Pakistan,was given an extension for an indefinite period.