Nawaz, others asked to submit replies within three days

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered all the persons whose names have appeared in the Asghar Khan case to submit written replies within three days.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, is hearing the implementation of the Asghar Khan case.

The Chief Justice said the cases of the persons belonging to armed forces would be dealt with under the Army Act, while the Federal Investigative Agency would proceed against politicians.

Former Chief of Army Staff Mirza Aslam Beg said in 1996 the apex court had referred this case to GHQ to decide. However, the then COAS excused from holding the trial. He, therefore, requested the Chief Justice that the apex court should decide the matter.

The Chief Justice asked him to file the application and then they would see whether under Article 184(3) of Constitution they hear or send the matter to FIA.

At the start of the hearing at 10:00am, the Chief Justice asked why ex-PM Nawaz Sharif has not come despite the fact that all the TV channels ran this news on Tuesday that notices were issued to the persons whose names have appeared in the Asghar Khan case.

The Chief Justice said Nawaz Sharif should have appeared or at least sent his counsel. He then ordered that Nawaz Sharif must ensure his presence before the court within 45 minutes (till 10:45am) wherever he was. The Chief Justice said he had to go to Peshawar Registry to hear cases and probably he would come back till 11:00am. He said if Sharif did not turn up now, he would have to appear at 1:00pm.

Meanwhile, on court’s insistence, Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf Ali stated that possibly Nawaz Sharif was attending his trial in the accountability court, as his presence was a must there.

The court then asked him to contact Sharif. Later, he apprised the court that he had talked to Sharif and he was engaged in the accountability court. He also stated that Sharif was looking to arrange a lawyer as he wants to appear through his counsel. Later, the court allowed Sharif to appear through his counsel.

During the hearing, the Chief Justice asked Javed Hashmi, who was present in the court, ‘if he had taken the money or not’. Javed Hashmi stated that he had been acquitted of the corruption charges by an accountability court after a five years long trial.

Attorney General for Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf told the court that there were three lists. The first list included names of Mir Afzal (died), Nawaz Sharif, Lt Gen Rafaqat, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Abida Hussain, Altaf Hussain, Mustafa Sadiq, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi (died), Jam Sadiq (died), Pir Pagarah (died), Maulana Salah-ud-Din, Zafar Jamali, Sarwar Khan Kakkar, Qadir A Baloch (died), Jam Yousaf, Hasil Bazenjo and Nadeem Mengal.

According to the second list, Rs40 million were transferred to the GHQ Account, money was also given to Military Intelligence (MI), besides the money was given to politicians, who included Brig Hammad, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi (died), Muhammad Khan Junejo (died), Pirzada, Pir Pagara, Muzafar Shah, Ghulam Nizamani, Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Salah-ud-Din (died), Yousaf Haroon (died), Hafiz Pirgul, Sawar Chohan, Mirza Khalid Director Service Intelligence.

The AGP said that certain money was transferred to the account of FRIEND, an NGO owned by Gen Mirza Aslam Beg (retd).

The third list contains the names of Khursheed Ahmed Shah (not PPP leader), Jam Sadiq, Liaquat Jatoi, Imtiaz Sheikh, Afaq Ahmad, Ajmal Khan, Dost Muhammad Faizi and Nawaz Sharif.

The court also took back the notice issued to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Khursheed Shah, as it was issued mistakenly.

During the hearing, senior lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan pointed out that Nawaz Sharif’s name has been mentioned three times in the case. The Chief Justice then said that Sharif will have to submit a separate reply.

He said Sharif will be investigated at all costs. The hearing has been adjourned till June 12.

The court had summoned 31 respondents (political figures) on June 6.