1990 election rigging: PML-N rejects probe by FIA, demands neutral commission

Chaudhry Nisar says his party will approach Supreme Court if needed.

ISLAMABAD: Wound up in one of the country’s most high-profile scandals, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on Sunday made its intentions clear – it will not go down without a fight.

Days after the Supreme Court directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to initiate a probe over the distribution of cash handouts amongst politicians to influence the 1990 election results, the PML-N raised serious reservations about the agency’s credibility and demanded that an independent commission be set up to investigate the case.

“We are ready to be held accountable, but [we] do not trust the FIA. Therefore, investigations should be conducted by an independent commission,” Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told a press conference.

“We accept the [Supreme Court] ruling in letter and spirit and are ready to cooperate. But we have reservations regarding the FIA and will approach the Supreme Court if need be,” he added.

Chaudhry Nisar also referred to different cases pertaining to the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority, National Insurance Company Limited and National Reconciliation Ordinance, wherein the apex court expressed reservations regarding the FIA’s role.

“How can we expect a transparent investigation from the agency in this particular case?” He added that it was PML-N’s legal right to demand an independent commission.

Chaudhry Nisar also referred to parts of the apex court’s short order in the Asghar Khan petition which was released on Friday to emphasise his point. He pointed to paragraph 14 of the judgment which says legal proceedings will be initiated against politicians found guilty of receiving money and that the FIA will initiate “transparent investigation on the criminal side if sufficient evidence is collected against them”.

Several political parties, and even the prime minister, have started censuring the PML-N rather than waiting for  the allegations to be proved, he lamented.

Referring to another part of the order, Chaudhry Nisar pointed out that former ISI chief Asad Durrani had submitted “incomplete details” about the money distributed and that no one could be declared guilty without a thorough investigation.

He clarified that Nawaz Sharif was not the head of the Islami Jahmoori Ittahad (IJI). He said the IJI comprised more than half a dozen parties and its chairman was elected on a rotation basis which is why Nawaz was heading the alliance at the time of the elections.

Hitting out

Interestingly, criticism against Chaudhry Nisar’s party only fueled his spirit to hurl allegations against other quarters.

“A commission should have started a probe when former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto first authorised the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to operate a political cell. Afterwards, [ex ISI chief] Gen (retd) Ahmed Shuja Pasha started diverting money towards Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf,” he alleged.

Asked if he had any proof of Gen Pasha’s support for PTI, Chaudhry Nisar said there were many others like Durrani who were ready to submit affidavits.

He also lashed out at the head of state, saying President Asif Ali Zardari was “doing much more than what happened in 1990” by doling out billions of rupees from the national kitty to his own political party.

“The government has started a campaign against the PML-N to divert the attention of the masses from its poor performance during the last four and a half years and to cover up its corruption. We are ready for an open trial so that people can learn about the real culprits.”

He said that there was no need to postpone elections till the completion of investigations.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd,  2012.