Islamabad: Pakistan Army Monday said ex-ISI chief Lt General (Retd) Asad Durrani did not obtain a ‘No Objection Certificate’ from it before publishing a controversial book along with former RAW chief AS Dulat.
Durrani’s name has been put on the no-fly list and Pakistan Army has ordered a Court of Inquiry to investigate his claims mentioned in the book.
The book titled The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace sparked a major controversy in Pakistan as various political parties voiced their reservations over it, with former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif demanding an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee over the issue.
Durrani, who served as the chief of Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency from August 1990 till March 1992, was subsequently summoned to the General Headquarters by the military last week, and a formal Court of Inquiry was ordered to probe the matter.
Responding to questions on the issue at a press briefing, the Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations Major General Asif Ghafoor shared new details on the controversy. He said Durrani did not obtain a No Objection Certificate from the Pakistan Army for the book he co-authored with Dulat.
The release of the book has sparked accusations of treachery against the former spy chief after his candid views on various matters of regional and global concern came under intense public scrutiny.
The powerful military, which has ruled Pakistan for about half its history since independence in 1947, is considered a major player in the country’s politics.
Ghafoor said that the institution itself took notice of the book controversy, and confirmed that an inquiry has been initiated against Durrani.
“An enquiry has been ordered as he (Durrani) failed to give proper explanation when summoned. The probe will complete its work which will be shared,” he said. He said the reaction against Durrani was strong because the Pakistan Army cannot afford to tolerate indiscipline from anyone.
“Pakistan Army has never forgiven any mistake, whether made by a soldier or a general,” he said.
Ghafoor also recalled Durrani’s dismissal from service, saying that who he was as a person was not the Army’s concern, but who he had been as part of the institution necessitated a review of his actions.
