ISI political wing still active in Pakistan: Mukhtar

Islamabad, Mar 20 (ANI): Pakistan Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar has said the political wing of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is still active, but added that its purpose was not formation or braking up of the parties, but to inform 'top leadership' about political activities in the country.

The Dawn quoted Mukhtar, as saying that there has always been a political wing in the Directorate of ISI and Prime Minister Gilani and President Zardari will be informed about the agency's policies and requirements by newly-appointed ISI Director General Zahirul Islam.

He also said that he was optimistic about working relations between the new ISI chief and the political government. Supremacy of the civilian institutions of the country over military institutions will be practically applied, he added.

Mukhtar further revealed that generous amount of money was distributed among candidates of the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) in 1990's general elections.

"Rs 10 million for the candidates of National Assembly and Rs 5 million for provincial assemblies were given on the directives of then president Ghulam Ishaq Khan during the elections," he added.

Commenting on Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), he said Shah Mehmood Qureshi has been sidelined by the chief Imran Khan by appointing Javed Hashmi as president of the party. (ANI)