Air Marshall (retd) Asghar Khan. PHOTO: ZAFAR ASLAM
ISLAMABAD: Interior ministry wrote a letter to the defence ministry requesting investigation records of the Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan case, from the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Express News reported on Saturday.
The letter stated that the records are either with the ISI or at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, as both are associated with the case.
Also, the interior ministry ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to record statements of politicians as well as the former chief Younus Habib and present a report within three months.
Asghar Khan case
On October 19, 2012, the apex court had issued a 141-page verdict, ordering legal proceedings against Gen Beg and Lt Gen Durrani in a case filed 16 years ago by Asghar Khan.
Asghar Khan had made an impassioned plea on December 20 for an investigation into the role of two senior military officers over doling out millions of rupees among several politicians ahead of the 1990 polls.
The Islamic Democratic Alliance (IDA), comprised of nine parties including the Pakistan Muslim League, National Peoples Party and Jamaat-e-Islami, had won the 1990 elections, with Nawaz Sharif being elected prime minister. The conservative front had been formed to oppose the Pakistan Peoples Party.
The retired air marshall had made the appeal when he appeared before a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) probe committee to record his statement. He had told the committee that “army discipline was breached” when the then army chief Aslam Beg and ISI chief Asad Durrani “failed to prevent unlawful actions by their subordinates”.
“It’s culpable and the guilty must be punished,” Asghar Khan was quoted as saying by a member of the FIA team.
The FIA team, headed by the additional director-general, Muhammad Ghalib Bandesha, had started probing into Asghar Khan’s claims after wrapping up investigations into the high treason charges against former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.
Sources familiar with the matter had earlier told The Express Tribune that the FIA was considering closure of the probe as sufficient evidence could not be found during the course of the inquiry.
The apex court judgment had directed the authority to initiate a transparent investigation and subsequent trial if sufficient evidence was found.
COMMENTS (12)
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@Aysha M: @Nikki: Absolutely! It is bothering that there IS sufficient evidence but for obvious reasons they want to shelve this case. The lady I mentioned in my earlier comment admitted to receiving funds and confirmed that the incumbent had also received a sum when she compared notes on the subject.
@salim: of course all of them did except for Altaf Hussain who chose integrity over money at a young age of 32, much to the amazement of ISI who were used to dealing with corrupt politicians
@NDC2: Agreed,it should be. Justice should be served for all.
@salim: There were many,including the incumbent.
There is evidence. Abida Hussein has publicly admitted to receiving funds.
Some people have come in this world just to moarn, they always cry in their whole life and remain without success. Crying from the grave yard is useless.Mr. Asghar Khan should enjoy his time instead of facing letigation in old age.What country ,where people waste their maximum time for other people not positively but negatively.
I have a prediction folks. I believe key witnesses against the PMLN Sharif's and those politicans implicated in Asghar Khan case would turn turtle , and one way or other detract their Statements or will be discredited by the defense for contradicting their earlier statements. The whole affair will be a farce.
@oBSERVER:
Bad legacy he left for the new one.And he was considernig himself the most honesta dn upright man.And also flying in air.
Ministry of interior's mission is to divert public attention from real issues to historically dead issues.
Iftikhar Chaudhry left this for his successor like the Arsalan Riaz Malik case.
Asghar Khan wants to see something what he wants. This man is forgetting now that he was the supporter of Zai ul Haq,and he opposed ZAB. I think his trial be initiated along with Musharraf for supporting Gen. Zia.