ISLAMABAD - Rejecting review petitions, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Monday expressed dismay over non-implementation of the judgment in Asghar Khan case.
In 2012, the Supreme Court ordered the federal government to take legal action against former army chief Aslam Beg and ex-ISI DG Asad Durrani for distributing Rs140 million to politicians in the 1990 elections.
Salman Akram Raja, counsel for former air marshal Asghar Khan yesterday appeared before a three-judge bench that took up review petitions filed by Beg and Durrani. Raja briefly narrated background of the case.
The CJP asked Raja if any step has been taken so far by the incumbent government for implementation of the verdict.
Raja replied in negative and told the court that not only the incumbent government but the caretaker set-up and the former PPP government also dragged their feet over the matter.
The CJP also observed that the judgment had to be implemented by the present government. The top judge said the court would fix responsibility as to why the verdict has not been complied with so far.
Raja quoted the judgment as saying the 1990 general elections were rigged and had ordered action against former president Ghulam Ishaq Khan.
He contended that the court declared illegal the role of Durrani and Beg while Younus Habib of Mehran Bank had also been made a party.
Shah Khawar represented Durrani while Beg appeared in-person and read out his formulations before the court.
The top court directed the attorney general and FIA DG Bashir Memon to submit a report about steps taken by the government for implementation of the judgment.
The FIA DG appeared before the bench and gave details about the steps taken by the government after the court delivered its judgment in 2012.
He informed the court that 18 persons concerned recorded their statements while 12 who were supposed to be probed have passed away.
A total of 190 clips of video evidence have also been acquired, he said, adding that Rs140 million had been deposited in six ‘benami’ accounts and a total of 15 accounts were under investigation. The top court will take the matter for hearing today.
