The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has recommended to the top court to close Asghar Khan case, as banks don't have details of deposit made at that time and due to that the Agency is unable to initiate criminal proceedings. The report, submitted on Saturday, mentioned that the case is more than 25 years old and the relevant banks do not have the details of deposits made at the time.
The Supreme Court on 2nd November had granted six weeks time to FIA to file progress report into the probe of receiving funds to manipulate general elections in 1990. The apex court will tomorrow (Monday) hear the case of former Air Chief Air Marshal Asghar Khan, which pertains to the distribution of Rs 140 million ahead of the 1990 general elections.
The FIA report further says that the statements of important witnesses in the case contradict one another, whereas the accused politicians have denied receiving any payments. The FIA said it does not have enough evidence to restart criminal proceedings, suggesting that the case file be closed. Director General FIA Bashir Memon in the last hearing had informed the court that Ministry of Defence of 'Court of Inquiry' has been constituted that will be headed by a lieutenant general for trial of those retired army officials who were involved in doling out money among a group of politicians in 1990s.
The apex court in its June 12, 2018 order instructed all institutions including the Ministry of Defence to ensure cooperation with the FIA which had been tasked with ensuring implementation of the court verdict. In 1996, Air Marshal Asghar Khan (Retd) had filed a petition in the SC, accusing the then army and ISI chiefs of doling out money to purchase loyalty of some politicians and public figures to manipulate 1990 elections.
The apex court on October 19, 2012 had issued a 141-page verdict, ordering legal proceedings against Gen Beg (Retd) and Lt Gen Durrani (Retd) in former air chief Air Marshal Asghar Khan case. The ex-PAF chief had petitioned the top court in 1996 against the two top army generals, alleging they along with then President of Pakistan Ishaq Khan had doled out Rs 140 million among the politicians to rig the elections 1990.
The apex court in its judgement ruled that the general election held in the year 1990 was subjected to corruption and corrupt practices as in view of the overwhelming material produced by the parties during hearing it has been established that an "Election Cell" had been created in the Presidency, which was functioning to provide financial assistance to the favoured candidates, or a group of political parties to achieve desired result by polluting election process and to deprive the people of Pakistan of being represented by their chosen representatives.
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