Islamabad - The military high command has summoned former ISI chief Lt-Gen (r) Asad Durrani to General Headquarters on Monday to explain his position on the controversial book he has co-authored with RAW ex-chief.
In a tweet yester night, ISPR chief Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor said Durrani will be questioned on views attributed to him in book ‘Spy Chronicles’, which apparently was a violation of the military code of conduct.
This development came after the senators on Friday took an exception to the book while the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif also called for convening a National Security Council (NSC) meeting and formation of a commission over the revelations made in the book.
Speaking outside the accountability court, Nawaz made this demand while apparently drawing a parallel between his own recent statement on the Mumbai attack case and sensitive nature of the content in the book: ‘The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace’, penned by Durrani and RAW ex-chief A S Dulat which was released on Wednesday.
Nawaz’s comments about the Mumbai attacks and its trial, in an interview with Dawn newspaper, had invited a sharp reaction from the military leadership which asked Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to convene the NSC. The top civil-military body then had condemned ex-PM’s controversial comments by calling them "incorrect and misleading".
Without naming the army, Nawaz said, “I believe that a meeting of the National Security Council should be held on the issue [too] as some serious information has been made public [through the book] and a national commission should be constituted to call a spade a spade.”
He said if the PML-N was voted to power in the next general election, it will form a commission not only on this matter but also on other vital issues like toppling of the PML-N government in Balochistan, the election of the Senate chairman and horse trading in Senate elections.
The issue was also raised in Senate where former long-time Senate chairman Raza Rabbani bashed General Durrani for co-authoring the book on sensitive issues with a former RAW chief at a time when relations between Indian and Pakistan were at the lowest ebb.
The PPP leader said on the one hand there is an escalation of firing by the Indian forces across LoC and its increasing violations of human rights in the occupied Kashmir while on the other the former ISI chief has co-authored the controversial book with his former Indian counterpart.
“Had a politician or a civilian authored this book there would have been a hue and cry and he might have been dubbed a traitor,” Rabbani remarked.
He questioned whether Durrani had got permission from his own institution [army] or the federal government. “Did he at least ever inform the federal government [about it]?” he asked.
“It is not a small matter as it the intelligence chiefs of two countries who are in an eyeball to eyeball with each other,” he observed.
Senator Mushtaq Ahmed pointed out that the said book had also revealed some information about Dr Shakeel Afridi, the man who allegedly helped CIA in haunting down Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad. Mushtaq deplored that they [despite being senators] would know about such things only through books.
The law minister said that the defence minister should answer the queries on the issue.
The issue had blown out so much so by the night that ‘security sources’ ran unofficial reports on the media claiming that Gen Durrani had been summoned at the GHQ for an explanation.
According to these reports, many parts of the information provided on different issues in the book were misleading and against the actual facts.
They said that no one was above the law, and the former spymaster has been called up to explain his position as he had apparently flouted the military code.
Minutes later, ISPR chief Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor tweeted: “Lt Gen Asad Durrani, Retired being called in GHQ on 28th May 18. Will be asked to explain his position on views attributed to him in book ‘Spy Chronicles’. Attribution taken as violation of Military Code of Conduct applicable on all serving and retired military personnel.”
MORE ON NAWAZ MEDIA TALK
The besieged PML-N leader in his media talk outside the accountability court on Friday also said that people are witnessing how "certain plotters are controlling the media and encroaching upon its freedom".
"They are putting pressure on TV channels and interrupting the circulation of newspapers and also managing the transmission through cable operators," he said, referring to curbs placed on two major media organisations in the country.
Nawaz said such tactics are tantamount to denying freedom of expression and vowed that that the PML-N will form a powerful commission to address these core issues if it comes to power again.
Musharraf case
Reiterating that he is being targeted for initiating a treason case against the former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.
“A three-time premier attends hearings while a dictator walks free,” Nawaz lamented, adding that Musharraf cannot run away from the case and the trial would reach its logical conclusion eventually as it could not be left in a limbo [forever].
He said that Musharraf was indicted in the high-treason case and owing to the sensitivity and gravity of this case, it could not be withdrawn.
Interestingly, the PML-N government is yet to issue a notification regarding the composition of the special court for Musharraf’s treason trial.
Nawaz said that Musharraf also disrespected the Parliament. He said the military dictator during his visit to parliament used to wave his punch and fists while saying “this is power”.
“He [Musharraf] demonstrated his power on May 12 [in Karachi in 2007] .... Where is that fist now which he arrogantly waved in 2007?” he asked, adding, “It would be better for Musharraf to slam that fist in his own face now as he’s sitting in a foreign country like a coward now.”
The former PM said that on the one hand, a prime minister has appeared in court 70 times in person while on the other hand, a dictator in his bid to avert court has become proclaimed offender and seeking excuses to stay away from court.
Responding to a question about PTI leader Shafqat Mehmood, who has announced that the PTI will bring back Musharraf to Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif said that Shafqat will instead make arrangements to get Musharraf join the PTI.
Criticizing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief, he said Imran Khan used ‘damned’ word for parliament but took every advantage out of it.
Commenting on the issue of the caretaker prime minister, he said that if consensus on the final name could not be reached, the issue will land in the parliament.
Gen Durrani summoned to GHQ over book controversy
