Asghar Khan case hearing underway at SC

ISLAMABAD: The proceedings of a petition filed by Air Marshal Asghar Khan (retd) against the money distribution among the politicians are underway at the Supreme Court (SC), Geo News reported Thursday.

Secretary Law Yasmin Abbasi arrived at the SC and submitted the interim Habib Bank inquiry report.

The SC observed that Durrani has provided sufficient information to the court.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, is seized with a petition filed by Air Marshal Asghar Khan (retd) some 16 years ago against the distribution of millions of rupees by the ISI among the anti-PPP politicians to manipulate the 1990 elections.

The amount was allegedly disbursed by then army chief General Mirza Aslam Beg (retd), former director general ISI Lt Gen Asad Durrani (retd) and defunct Mehran Bank's chief Younis Habib.

Asad Durrani on Wednesday rebutted the statement of former army chief Aslam Beg that he was not involved in the alleged disbursement.

In his counter statement, Durrani submitted that Beg, as army chief, was on board right from the beginning in the operation, involved both in the process of issuing instructions as well as overseeing the disbursements.

In compliance with the court's earlier order, Beg on May 9 had submitted in his reply before the SC that he was not involved in the disbursement.

On May 10, Salman Akram Raja, counsel for Asghar Khan submitted an inquiry report relating to the affairs of Mehran Bank and Habib Bank.

During the proceedings, the CJ inquired from Salman Raja that from where he had got the said report, on this Raja informed the bench that journalist Hamid Mir handed over the report to him which was supplied by former interior minister Naseerullah Babar.