SC moved to probe Mushahidullah’s claims

PML-N senator alleges ex-ISI chief Zaheerul Islam was involved in PTI’s dharna

ISLAMABAD: A lawyer has filed a constitutional petition arguing in favour of an inquiry panel to probe allegations regarding the involvement of a former spymaster in stoking the four-month-long sit-in that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) carried out for the removal of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif last year.

The lawyer, Tariq Asad, moved the petition under Article 184(3) of the Constitution on Monday.  He requested the apex court to constitute a commission to investigate PML-N Mushahidullah Khan’s allegations against former Director General ISI Zaheerul Islam for plotting a conspiracy against Premier Nawaz during PTI’s 126-day dharna in Islamabad.

The petitioner, while referring the media report, said that this was not the first time that such claims have been made about ISI, adding that earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif had also accused Zaheerul Islam of plotting against the government. Similarly, a retired Brigadier, associated with the PTI, had said that Gen Islam had conspired to topple the prime minister and army chief. Similar kinds of allegations were made by senior politician Javed Hashmi too after parting ways with the PTI.

The lawyer also stated that the relationship between Pakistan’s civilian governments and the military has often been tumultuous with three coups since independence and in prevailing circumstances such allegations are prejudicial to the integrity and security of the country.

PTI chief Imran Khan has also demanded the formation of the commission to find out the truth behind these allegations, he added.

In case of the allegations of PML-N leaders Mushahidullah and Khawaja Asif  prove false, the petitioner said, than they may be unseated from the Senate under Article 62-F and H of the Constitution and they be dealt in accordance with law.

He pleaded that if the audiotape is proved, true action ought to be taken against the former ISI chief, adding that in case of ignoring these allegations, the integrity of the esteemed institution would become doubtful in the eyes of public at large.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2015.