AGP asked to submit response on IB chief's behalf

KHUDAYAR MOHLA

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Attorney General for Pakistan, Irfan Qadir, to submit a response on behalf of incumbent Director General Intelligence Bureau (IB) over alleged misuse of secret funds for political purposes.

A three-judge bench, led by the Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, resumed the hearing of a suo-motu case on the alleged misuse of Rs400 million from IB's secret fund by the incumbent  PPP-led coalition government in 2008-09.

In response to the apex court's directives in the current matter, the Registrar Lahore High Court submitted that a reference against former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on alleged withdrawal of Rs 360 million in 1988-90 from IB's secret fund for political purposes had been dismissed on March 27, 1994.

During the course of hearing, former acting Director General IB Tariq Lodhi also submitted a reply on the alleged use of Rs 400 million IB fund by the incumbent government on political activities in 2008-09 and prayed the bench to keep it classified.

Accepting his request, the bench directed the office to keep the document in a sealed envelope and exempted him from making personal appearance, saying he would be summoned, if required.

The court adjourned the hearing of case till Feb 26.