26.9 C
Karachi
Friday, March 29, 2024
- Advertisement -
 

Supreme Court takes up appeals in Asghar Khan case

TOP NEWS

Web Desk
Web Desk
News Stories Posted by ARY News Digital Team

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday took up review petitions against its 2012 ruling in famous Asghar Khan case, involving alleged doling out of Rs140 million among several politicians by secret agencies to rig the 1990s election. 

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Ijazul Ahsan was hearing the case.

At the outset, the chief justice observed that two review pleas have been moved in the apex court and that they didn’t want to delay the matter.

Advocate Salman Akram Raja turned up before the bench to represent Air Marshal (r) Asghar Khan.

CJP Nisar asked former army chief Gen Mirza Aslam Beg, who was in attendance in the courtroom, to forward his arguments in the case if his lawyer was absent.

Upon this, the former top commander requested for some time to prepare his arguments.

The chief justice said he don’t want to put off the case at any cost and called for a break until 2:30 pm.

The appeals have been filed by Gen Beg and former ISI director general Gen Asad Durrani against the apex court verdict.

Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan wrote a letter to the then chief justice of Pakistan Nasim Hassan Shah in 1996, in which he alleged that the then president Ghulam Ishaq Khan, then army chief General Mirza Aslam Beg, then ISI director general Lt Gen Asad Durrani as well as then owner of now defunct Mehran Bank Younis Habib had distributed Rs 140 million among several politicians to manipulate the 1990 polls to defeat Benazir Bhutto.

After the passage of more than a decade following the matter having brought to the apex court, it gave a 141-page landmark verdict on October 19, 2012 declaring that 1990 elections were rigged.

It ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate the matter and if evidence was found against anyone, action should be taken against them.

The court held that there was sufficient evidence to suggest that the 1990 election was rigged and that a political cell maintained by the then president Ghulam Ishaq Khan supported the formation of the IJI to stop a victory of the PPP.

It found Ghulam Ishaq Khan, Baig and Durrani guilty of violating the constitution.

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
 

POLL

Will the PML-N led govt be able to steer Pakistan out of economic crisis?

- Advertisement -
 

MORE STORIES