Thaindian News

Islamabad, Dec 20 (IANS) Pakistan’s spy agency chief, General Ahmed Shuja Pasha, should be sacked, a petition filed in the Supreme Court has demanded.

Jameel Ahmed, Communist Party of Pakistan chairman, Monday sought prompt removal of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) head, reported the daily Dawn.

The petition referred to articles in the foreign media that said General Pasha allegedly got approval from the Arab world to sack President Asif Ali Zardari.

“Till date these allegations have not been denied by both the ISI DG and the ISPR (Inter Services Public Relation),” he was quoted as saying in his petition.

Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz had revealed about a secret memo, leading to the resignation of Pakistan’s ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani. Zardari had feared a military coup after the May 2 killing of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden by US commandos in Abbottabad and had appealed for US help, according to the memo.

Ahmed sought an interim relief in which the court should direct the government to suspend the ISI chief till his petition was dealt with.

“If whatever stated by Mansoor Ijaz about the `memogate’ is correct, then what about his opinion concerning the ISI (DG) that he got approval from the Arab world for the removal of the president,” asked Ahmed.

“This is alarming and shows involvement of the ISI DG,” he added.

Zardari’s sudden departure to Dubai Dec 6 over a heart condition had sparked coup speculations. The president returned to Pakistan late Sunday night.