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Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and its political cell has become a Frankenstein monster, as the cell and its mother organisation today stand accused of interfering in political matters and carrying out covert operations, while operating with absolute impunity and terror, an editorial in a Pakistani daily has said. This issue is murky and perhaps deliberately shrouded in secrecy, the editorial in the Daily Times stated. The Supreme Court, after taking up a 1996 petition of Tehrik-i-Istiqlal chief Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan, has categorically stated that a political cell in the ISI and any extra-constitutional interference in Pakistan 's democracy is unacceptable. In his petition, Asghar Khan accused the ISI of dishing out over Rs 140 million to various right-wing politicians and parties during the 1990 elections to create the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) alliance to defeat the Pakistan People's Party (PPP). The Defence Ministry has failed to produce before the apex court the notification that was issued to set up the cell in 1975. Regardless of the circumstances or context of the creation of the cell, the time has come to abolish it, it said. There is no place for such subversive cells in a democratic polity. If the cell continues to function, then the democratic political process is in grave danger of being manipulated and distorted as in the past, it added. The forces of law and order appear to remain indifferent with not a single person being arrested, investigated or prosecuted. The country's powerful military and its intelligence agencies must be held accountable, it further said. There is a dire need for civilian oversight. The ISI must report to the Prime Minister instead of operating with the impunity it is currently enjoying. Although Yousuf Raza Gilani and Farhatullah Babar's attempts in this regard proved stillborn, the government must continue to press for it regardless, it concluded.

Time to stop ISI, its political cell: Pak paper