Pak govt. decides against extending Pasha's tenure as ISI chief

Islamabad, Feb 26 (ANI): The Pakistan government has reportedly decided against extending the tenure of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief, Lieutenant General Ahmed Shuja Pasha.

Pasha, who has been heading the ISI for the last three-and-a-half years, will be transferred to the Strategic Plans Division (SPD) as its head, The Dawn reports.

Pasha was handed a one-year extension as chief of the premier spy agency last March, but reports suggest that the government decided not to give him another chance over his alleged role in the Memo Gate scandal.

The paper quoted sources as saying that the government is keeping mum on this issue for now.

"Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani will take the final decision after his one-on-one meeting with the President Asif Ali Zardari," sources added.

Meanwhile, another source close to Pasha disclosed that he did not want an extension, particularly after the controversial Memo Gate episode, which had reportedly distanced him from Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

At least four senior military officers, including the Corps Commander Lahore Lieutenant General Rashid, Corps Commander Karachi Lieutenant General Zaheer-ul-Islam, Deputy Director General ISI Major General Asfandyar Pataudi and the incumbent DG Military Intelligence Major General Noshad Kayani are also being considered for the slot to be vacated by Pasha. (ANI)