Secret funds case: IB chief’s response rejected over improper language

Attorney general withdraws report that he had submitted before SC.

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a report submitted by the attorney general of Pakistan on behalf of the Intelligence Bureau chief, citing the use of uncalled-for language.

Following this, Irfan Qadir withdrew the report that he had submitted in the case pertaining to the IB’s ‘secret’ funds allegedly used by the Pakistan Peoples Party to topple the Punjab government between 1980-90 and 2008-09.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, Qadir said, “I am withdrawing the written response submitted on behalf of Director General IB and will submit it after rephrasing the language.”

“We have to show respect to the AG. If the written report was signed by the IB director-general, he would have been called in court for an explanation,” observed Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

The chief justice further asked Qadir whether he had gone through the report before signing it, and pointed out that it seemed the DG IB was directing the apex court to consult the auditor general of Pakistan about the use of funds of the bureau.



The IB chief, citing Article 175 (2) of the Constitution, said the court had no authority to look into the matter of the intelligence agency, which is controlled by the prime minister.

The attorney general, however, clarified that the response was based on the opinion of the law and justice division.

The bench directed him to submit the response again and adjourned the hearing till February 28.

The Supreme Court had directed the IB chief to file a written response, after taking notice of a report which appeared in The Express Tribune last year, alleging that Rs270 million had been withdrawn by the PPP government to dislodge the Punjab government in 2008-09.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2013.