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Leaders of two Pakistani political parties on Monday urged the government to end the interference of the Inter Services Intelligence in political matters.
Commenting on a report by former Air Force Chief Air Marshal Zulifkar Ali Khan on the ISI's interference in political parties' internal affairs, they said the ISI actions affected its own efficiency.
The secretary general of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, Meraj Muhammad Khan, said the ISI was being used for "political motives" Right from the days of Zia ul-Haq regime in defiance of the country's constitution.
"One does not has to be a genius to figure out the performance and efficiency of the top secret agency when it is involved in such petty matters," he said.
"Another worrying fact is that when you render a huge amount at the disposal of a secret agency and it has the authority to distribute it among the politicians, then what would be the legitimacy of elections and the agency itself?" he asked.
"No doubt the ISI is one of the country's most sensitive agencies, but it has no right to manipulate or distribute money (to political parties)."
Ejaz Shafi, the vice president of the Pakistan Muslim League headed by former prime minister Nawaz Sharief, said the ISI "should mind its own business".
He said the military government used to blame politicians for the failure of democracy, but it forgot to recognise the fact that secret agencies like ISI had not allowed democracy to flourish.
The all-powerful ISI is known to fund political parties and politicians in Pakistan.
Indo-Asian News Service
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