Editorial

A welcome development

FIA investigation could settle many things and also suggest to us how best to avoid military interference in future.

Editorial November 19, 2013

For the first time, based on Lt Gen (retd) Durrani’s affidavit, we have evidence of the degree to which the military has, from behind the scenes, played a role in determining political outcomes. PHOTO: EXPRESS/ZAFAR ASLAM

A new investigation being taken on by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) could lead the way to making the country’s anti-corruption laws more effective and preventing the manipulation of elections. Such changes could have far-reaching results on political events and actions taking place in the country, with the matter arising from the Supreme Court’s verdict last year in the Asghar Khan case. The Court had ordered an investigation against all those involved in tampering with the outcome of the 1990 elections by making payments to political parties. The FIA is due to submit its report by May next year.

The key focus of what could prove to be one of the most important inquiries in our history will be former army chief General (retd) Mirza Aslam Beg and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) ex-director general Lt Gen (retd) Asad Durrani, accused of paying out millions to ensure the victory of certain parties. The role of banker Younis Habib, who formerly headed the now defunct Mehran Bank, will also come under scrutiny. General (retd) Beg has already filed a review petition in the matter. Following the FIA findings, the government is likely to form a tribunal to look into the matter.

The task before the FIA is a daunting one. Its investigation will need to be as foolproof as possible, and cover all angles in what is a delicate matter. For the first time, based on Lt Gen (retd) Durrani’s affidavit, we have evidence of the degree to which the military has, from behind the scenes, played a role in determining political outcomes. Rumours of this have, of course, circulated for a very long time. But the FIA investigation, based on a crucial Court ruling, could settle many things and also suggest to us how best to avoid them in the future, so that we can move towards a democracy in which only the votes cast by people has a say in determining who governs and the doors of intervention from any other quarter are firmly blocked once and for all. This is something we badly need.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 20^th, 2013.

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