Pakistan's powerful Inter Services Intelligence had manipulated the 2002 general election on the 'directives' of President Pervez Musharraf [Images], a former senior official of the spy agency has claimed.

Major General (retired) Ehtesham Zamir, who headed ISI's political cell at the time of those polls, has called the recent defeat of the 'King's party' -- the PML-Q -- "a reaction of the unnatural dispensation of 2002".

"You are quite right," Zamir, who rose to be number 2 in the powerful intelligence agency, told The News when asked if there was a heavy penetration of the ISI in the last general election.

Asked who directed him to manipulate the polls, Zamir said, "Obviously (it was done) on the directives of President Musharraf."

He said he was embarrassed about his role. "I was a serving officer and I did what I was told to do. I never felt the need, during the service, to question anyone senior to me," he said.

Zamir admitted that corruption cases were used as pressure tactics against lawmakers. "Yes. This tool was used, and not only by the ISI. The National Accountability Bureau was also involved in this exercise."

Looking back at the 'blunders', which had pushed Pakistan backwards, Zamir said he was ashamed of his role and conduct.

Zamir has called for the closure of the ISI's political cell though he thinks last week's polls were fairer than 2002.

Another former top associate of Musharraf, Lieutenant General (retired) Jamshed Gulzar [Images] Kiyani, has said a majority of corps commanders had opposed the President's decision to patronize the PML-Q.

"We had urged Musharraf many times during corps commanders' meetings that the PML-Q leadership was the most condemned. They are the worst politicians who remained involved in cooperative scandals and writing off loans. But Musharraf never heard our advice," Kiyani said.