DG ISI likely to get another Extension?

Islamabad - Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is seriously considering offering extension in service to the ISI DG Lt-Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha for his ‘meritorious services’ for the country.

Daily The Nation claimed on Sunday that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general, whose second extended term too expires next month, might be given another extension in service because of the ‘critical challenges to the national security’.

They dismissed media reports that Pasha was being appointed as director general of the Strategic Plans Division (SPD)  the body that controls the country’s nuclear arsenal  saying that SPD’s was a highly technical job being looked after well by the incumbent director general Lt-Gen (r) Khalid Ahmad Kidwai.

Pasha, who took over the agency in October 2008  just a month before the Mumbai attacks of 26/11  and has served as the ISI DG for three-and-half years, reached the age of retirement in 2010 and has already been given two extensions. His second one-year extension given last year expires on March 18.

Sources were of the view that Prime Minister Gilani has already shown his inclination in giving extension to Gen Pasha. They said that Gilani was ‘personally impressed’ the way Pasha had devoted himself to defending the country from critical internal and external security challenges since he assumed the office of ISI DG.

Sources said the prime minister has been vocal in supporting Gen Pasha, claiming he (PM) has also taken on board President Asif Ali Zardari on the issue of Pasha’s extension. They were of the view that Gilani believes that certain media outlets had created some misunderstandings related to ISI DG and army chief by overplaying the memogate scam, but those were later removed. The prime minister, they said, was also convinced that some US agencies were actively involved in backing media campaign to malign armed forces and security agencies including the ISI to achieve certain objectives.

In case Prime Minister Gilani changes his mind or Gen Pasha himself refuses to accept extension in his service, army chief would recommend a panel of capable lieutenant generals for the new appointment. “It has always been the prerogative of army chief which names he picks up for this crucial job”, sources said, adding it would be premature to say about the p