Pakistani court asks for details of ISI's service structure

ISLAMABAD: Putting the ISI in a tight spot by rejecting its argument that its service structure is confidential, a Pakistani court has directed the powerful spy agency to give details of its functioning and recruitment process.

The Islamabad High Court said the details are needed so that it can decide the fate of a petition filed by 34 civilian inspectors of the Inter-Services Intelligence who complained their promotion process is discriminatory and slow.

The petition was filed in June this year and Chief Justice Mohammad Anwar Khan Kasi issued the direction during a hearing yesterday, the Dawn newspaper reported today.

In a reply submitted in court yesterday, the ISI opposed any briefing on the agency's service structure and claimed this was a confidential matter.

The Chief Justice observed that the grievances of the inspectors could not be overlooked for the sake of confidentiality and directed the ISI counsel to submit details of the statute under which the spy agency functions and recruits people.

He gave the ISI counsel a week to provide the information and adjourned the case till October 3.

Neither the petitioners' lawyer, Rehanuddin Khan Golra, nor ISI counsel Khurram Hashmi was clear about the status of the inspectors.

They were uncertain whether the inspectors are subject to the Civil Servant Rules of 1973 or Pakistan Army Act of 1952.

In its reply, the ISI said it was complying with the court's orders and had not committed any disobedience. It said the inspectors had filed their petition with "complete disregard for the valuable time" of the court.

The inspectors were harassing the ISI chief with "frivolous litigation", the agency claimed. It said the promotion of the inspectors was a matter related to the service of employees and the Federal Services Tribunal was the competent forum for settling such matters.

The ISI's counsel also requested the judge to transfer the case to another court.