High-level reshuffle: Government replaces IB director general

Abdul Wadood Shah will take over from Akhtar Hussain Gorchani today.

ISLAMABAD:

The government on Friday appointed a new Intelligence Bureau (IB) director general (DG), a move which may affect the ongoing probe into the alleged misuse of the agency’s secret funds for political ends.

The government replaced IB DG Akhtar Hussain Gorchani with Syed Abdul Wadood Shah, the IB Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) joint DG, according to officials.

The outgoing IB chief had been heading the investigation under instructions from the Supreme Court (SC). Officials in the IB were unsure as to whether their new boss could assist the court in the investigation or not.

The SC has been hearing a suo motu case on the alleged misuse of IB secret funds worth Rs270 billion to rig the 1988 general elections. It has also been hearing a separate case regarding the withdrawal of Rs400 million from the agency’s secret funds by the incumbent government for political purposes between 2008 and 2009.

According to sources, Gorchani had invoked the government’s ire by refusing to sign a certain written statement and submitting his own reply before the SC in the secret funds case instead. They added that Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf had also been displeased with the outgoing chief over his failure to provide certain intelligence reports corresponding to important developments.



The government, however, linked Gorchani’s replacement with the deteriorating law and order situation in the country, particularly in the restive Balochistan province.

“The move is an attempt to curb violence and sectarian killings across the country,” a senior IB official maintained.

Talking with The Express Tribune, newly-appointed IB DG Abdul Wadood Shah resolved to combat sectarian violence with good intelligence rather than brute force.

“It is a key issue in Pakistan today… I think we should counter sectarian violence with better intelligence,” he maintained.

Shah, who is set to take charge today (Saturday), said timely collection of intelligence would be helpful for law enforcement agencies in their fight against militancy in Balochistan and K-P.

“Coping with militancy in K-P is a herculean task… (But) it will remain IB’s top priority,” he pledged.

According to IB sources, outgoing chief Gorchani, is likely to be appointed in one of Pakistan’s missions abroad.

“He may be sent to one of Pakistan’s missions in the US,” said a senior official.

Gorchani was appointed as Director General IB last year. He replaced Aftab Sultan, who is presently working as Commandant National Police Academy.

(WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT IN LAHORE)

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2013.