News
of the change came as Pakistan People's Party leader Asif Ali Zardari said in a
statement that the party, which dominates the new Government, "does not
recognise Pervez Musharraf as a constitutional president".
Before flying to London, Mr Zardari, the widower of Benazir Bhutto, told
reporters: "The PPP has neither any relationship with (the) Aiwan-e-Sadr
(the President's house), nor does it recognise Pervez Musharraf as a
constitutional president.
"We
may have relations with government functionaries and the Prime Minister
(through his office) may have relations with Aiwan-e-Sadr, but more than that
the PPP has no links of any kind."
Mr
Zardari's statement followed criticisms that he and the PPP were colluding with
Mr Musharraf.
It
was seen as an attempt to counter those claims and underline the extent to
which the party is determined, with its coalition partner the Pakistan Muslim
League (Nawaz), to isolate Mr Musharraf in an effort to drive him from office.
There
were indications last night that Mr Zardari's statement was causing dismay among
Musharraf officials. Previously, he had been regarded as a potential ally
in the President's battle to cling to power.
Under
the Musharraf dictatorship, the intelligence agencies -- especially the ISI and
its sister organisation Military Intelligence -- enjoyed unique power and
influence, working hand in glove with the President and exercising virtually
untrammelled authority over policy in every field, not just security.
But
last night, a government official was quoted as saying "major structural
changes to the intelligence agencies" were being made "with the
political wing of the ISI made part of Military Intelligence and all the
agencies reporting directly to the Prime Minister, Mr Gilani".
Reliable
sources said orders had been issued to the agencies that they should no longer
report to Mr Musharraf. It was believed that the change was supported by
army chief General Ashfaq Kayani, who attained his post after Mr Musharraf quit
last year.
One
of the key demands being made of Mr Musharraf is that he give up his authority
to appoint the country's service chiefs.
Meanwhile,
a new crisis in relations between the President and the new Government was
overcome last night when the Election Commission, still controlled by Musharraf
loyalists, backed down and agreed to bring forward the date of pending
parliamentary by-elections to June 26.
Mr
Zardari was expected to contest a parliamentary seat that would place him on
course to take over as prime minister.
There
had been allegations of a "conspiracy" between the presidency and the
commission to try to stall the by-elections to thwart the entry of both Mr
Zardari and coalition partner Nawaz Sharif into the national parliament.
