Though the intention might have been to subtly slip the changes in, the proposed greenlighting to the ISI to start screening civil servants wasn’t going to go by unnoticed. Overnight, the government, which had styled itself as the torchbearers of civilian supremacy not too long ago, became the target of criticism from their supporters and other political analysts. And rightly so; not only is it terrible optics, it is also just the wrong step.
Bloated intelligence agencies usually don’t get to do their jobs. The British were mindful of this; they had specific protocols for increase in the numbers of the Intelligence Bureau, as well the police’s Special Branch. It was a delicate balance: too few, and they won’t be able to have situational awareness; too many, and…let’s just say idle spooks with time on their hands usually don’t bode too well for the populace.
The ISI might have ballooned out of its initial, intended size. But there are serious geopolitical threats that the agency needs to stay on top of, the other side may counter. On that front, the agency certainly does have its hands full. But with so many lapses of late, perhaps that is what they should be stuck with. And let the FIA and the IB continue with whatever screening is required for the induction and promotion of civil servants.
The elected civil governments of this country have ceded much space to the military during the course of our history. It has been small granular increments that have led to wherever we are today. There should be vigilance on the part of the political class to be mindful of this, now that there seems to have emerged a consensus on the issue, across the political divide.
