Asghar Khan petition: SC seeks report on formation of ISI's political cell, again

AG Irfan Qadir informs the court that the notification enabling the formation of the political cell was not available.

ISLAMABAD: While hearing the case pertaining to a decade-old petition filed by Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan, the Supreme Court once again summoned the report of formation of the ISI’s political cell and directed the defence and interior secretaries to submit their responses, DawnNews reported Thursday.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, heading a three-member bench, has been hearing the petition by Khan, who accused the ISI of 1996 petition filed by Khan who accused the ISI of financing politicians in the 1990 elections by dishing out Rs140 million to create the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) and prevent Benazir Bhutto’s PPP from winning the polls.

The petition was based on an affidavit of former ISI chief Lt-Gen (retd) Asad Durrani.

Attorney General Irfan Qadir informed the court that the notification enabling the formation of the political cell was not available.

The petitioner’s counsel Salman Akram Raja failed to appear for the hearing on account of ill health, Raja’s advocate-on-record informed the court. Raja had requested the court to adjourn the hearing.

Justice Chaudhry responded saying that the case was significant and its hearings were crucial, however, due to the counsel’s absence, the hearing was adjourned to October 3.