Sharif says ISI chief Pasha's term should not be extended

Islamabad, Mar 6 (ANI): PML-N President Nawaz Sharif has said that he is against giving an extension to Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt. Gen. Shuja Ahmed Pasha.

Sharif said that the masses have suffered whenever army generals have ventured into politics.

"When generals usurped power, it only pushed the country towards turmoil. They should avoid that," The Nation quoted him, as saying.

It was reported last month that Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had hinted that he could offer an extension in service to Pasha for his 'meritorious services' to the country.

The Nation quoted sources as saying that Pasha, whose second extended term too expires next month, might be given another extension in service because of the 'critical challenges to national security'.

Sources said that Gilani was 'personally impressed' by the way Pasha had devoted himself to defending the country from critical internal and external security challenges since he assumed the office of ISI DG.

Sources dismissed media reports that Pasha could be appointed as Director General of the Strategic Plans Division (SPD), the body that controls Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, saying that the SPD was a highly technical job being looked after by Lt-Gen (retired) Khalid Ahmad Kidwai.

Pasha, who assumed charge of the ISI in October 2008, just a month before the Mumbai terror attacks, has been in office for three-and-half years. He was supposed to retire in 2010, but was given two extensions. His second one-year extension given last year expires on March 18. (ANI)