Dark Side
Pakistan PM Takes Control of Spies
By Bruce Loudon, Australian, 9 May 2008
May 9, 2008 - 3:01:37 PM

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.