Daily Times

LAHORE: Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar said on Tuesday that he wouldn’t tolerate further delay in the implementation of the Asghar Khan case verdict and directed the authorities concerned to complete investigation as soon as possible.

As the three-member bench, headed by CJ Nisar, resumed the hearing on Tuesday, politicians including Javed Hashmi, Mir Hasil Bizenjo, Abida Hussain, and Ghulam Mustafa Khar appeared before the court.

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general Basheer Memon and former head of the ISI, Asad Durrani, also appeared in court.

During the proceedings, the CJP was told by the FIA DG that former premier Nawaz Sharif had recorded his statements in the case.

The Chief Justice observed that people summoned by the FIA must appear before it. “No agency has any power within the remits of this court,” he said, directing all all government ministries, including Defence, to cooperate with the FIA.

Commenting on the issue of former dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s treason trial, the CJP said, “We have removed hurdles in the way of Pervez Musharraf to return to the country. Now, it depends on his courage if he returns to the country or not. The investigation will be held as per law.”

Earlier, the FIA had sent notices to 19 politicians, including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, over the implementation of the Asghar Khan verdict. On Monday, Pakistan People’s Party leader Rehman Malik, Imtiaz Sheikh and Younus Habib remained unable to appear before the FIA.

Last week, after the Supreme Court directed all 31 respondents to submit written replies by June 9, Nawaz Sharif was allowed to be represented by a lawyer. In his statement submitted through the counsel, Sharif denied receiving Rs3.5 million either from Lt General (retd) Durrani, or under his instructions from his representatives as a donation to his election campaign in 1990. Nawaz also denied receiving Rs3.5 million and Rs2.5 million funds from Younus Habib.

The written response stated that Nawaz Sharif had already recorded his statement before the FIA on October 14, 2015. On October 19, 2012, the Supreme Court had issued a 141-page verdict, ordering legal proceedings against Gen (retd) Aslam Beg and Lt Gen (retd) Asad Durrani in the case filed 16 years ago by Air Marshal Asghar Khan.

Published in Daily Times, June 13^th 2018.