[chottala.com] Pakistan: Domestic Spying and political wings of spy agencies

Pakistan: Domestic Spying and political wings of spy agencies       PPP to disband political wings of spy agencies

Saturday, May 31, 2008 By Ansar Abbasi ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) would soon take legislative action to disband political wings of all intelligence agencies, including the ISI, which have acquired notoriety for carrying out dirty business for dictators. The government is considering amendments to the rules of business to hold the security agencies, including the ISI and the MI, accountable to the elected government, besides disbandment of their political wings. A source in the Zardari House told this correspondent that in addition to his constitutional package as reflected in The News on Friday, Senator Raza Rabbani had also proposed to the party co-chairperson a comprehensive legislative paper for the implementation of the Charter of Democracy. The source said a number of constitutional amendments proposed by Rabbani had already been incorporated in the constitutional package while Asif Ali Zardari would possibly call another meeting of his legal aides to settle the conflicting issues put forward by Naek and Rabbani. Raza Rabbani, as compared to Farooq Naek, is believed to have a much better comprehension of the law and the Constitution but the party co-chairman has given Naek the lead role for the task that is considered well beyond the capabilities of the law minister. Naek's understanding of the Constitution was badly exposed in a recent talk show on Geo's CapitalTalk where he claimed that for impeachment of the president the coalition required two-thirds majority separately in the Senate and in the National Assembly. Constitutionally, for impeachment two-thirds majority is required in a joint session of parliament. A Zardari House source said the Rabbani's paper on the Charter of Democracy implementation sought amendments to the rules of business not only to rein in the spy agencies but also to depoliticise them by disbanding their political cells. Through an amendment to these rules, he also seeks the formation of a committee, as envisaged in the Charter of Democracy, to cut waste and bloat in the armed forces and the security agencies in the interest of defence and security of the country. All senior postings in the spy agencies would also be made with the approval of the government through respective ministries. The complete implementation of the Charter of Democracy requires repeal of the 17th Constitutional Amendment while saving joint electoral reserved seats, lowered voting age and increase in seats, amendments to 17 articles of the Constitution, insertion of two new articles in the Constitution, repeal of the NAB and Anti-Terrorist Acts, amendments to several other acts and amendments to federal as well as provincial governments' rules of business. Besides, Rabbani's Charter of Democracy paper also seeks constitutional amendments to allocate reserved seats for women to the parties on the basis of number of votes polled in the general elections by each party, increase in the strength of the Senate to accommodate minorities representation, inclusion of FATA in the NWFP, holding of local government elections on party basis and constitutional protection to the local governments to make them autonomous and answerable to their respective assemblies as well as to the people through regular courts of law and review of all indemnities introduced by military regimes in the Constitution. It is, however, not yet clear if the indemnities given to a selected class of past rulers and bureaucrats under the NRO would also be reviewed as per the Charter of Democracy. Through amendments to the laws/ acts through a simple majority in parliament, Rabbani seeks the wrapping up of the NAB as well as anti-terrorist courts, empowering the Northern Areas Legislative Council to provide the people of the Northern Areas access to justice and human rights, abolition of the National Security Council, undoing the bar on a prime minister not being eligible for a third term of office, drafting of new law for setting up of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to acknowledge victims of torture, imprisonment, state-sponsored persecution, targeted legislation, and politically motivated accountability. Rabbani's paper recommends new laws to prevent corruption and floor crossing by ensuring all votes for the Senate and indirect seats through open identifiable ballot. Through a new law, all military and judicial officers would be required to file annual assets and income declarations like the parliamentarians to make them accountable to the public. Through an act of parliament, a National Democracy Commission shall be established to promote and develop a democratic culture in the country. http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=15020

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