ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the authorities to total the probe against military officers involved in Asghar Khan case within four weeks.A three-member bench of the apex court, comprising Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, took up the case nowadays.The case relates to distribution of millions of rupees among politicians for manipulating 1990 general elections.When the hearing resumed, Justice Gulzar commented that the court would review the FIA report along with the Ministry of Defence response whether the court directives were implemented or much.During the proceedings, Justice Ejaz ul Ahsan observed that Rs 184 million were disbursed 24 years ago.The compliance report submitted by the FIA on Saturday sought the court help and guidance to gather sufficient evidence for prosecution.The report stated that efforts had been made to unsoil facts and bring the truth to light but investigation had reached a dead end.On Jan 11, the then chief justice Mian Saqib Nisar after accepting the plea of the family of late Air Marshal (R) Asghar Khan ordered that the matter be fixed for hearing before a bench after his retirement.It is to be recalled that on Dec 29, 2018, the FIA had proposeed the apex court that the case be shutd, as it did much have enough evidence to launch criminal prosecution against individuals named in the judgement.The court, however, was much convinced with the conclusions reached by the FIA and asked the agency to submit a response to Khan family's joint reply in which they had opposed the proposeion to shut the case.On Saturday, the FIA in its reply submitted that they had left no stone unturned to trace evidence relating to disbursement of alleged money to politicians."Every important witnesses, including central figure Brig (R) Hamid Saeed Akhtar, were examined.
The bank records were scrutinised and the statements of bank officers concerned were also recorded.
The politicians were also interviewed,& said the report.The court was told that the assistance of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Ministry of Defence had also been sought.It was also submitted that over 190 television programmes had been analysed and the defence ministry had been contacted to supply details required to find essential evidence.
However, investigation could much reach a logical conclusion, as information about the handover of money to any private person directly was much available."It was further submitted that the documents supplyd by Brig (R) Hamid Saeed Akhtar showed that money was distributed in Sindh, but he had much disshutd the names of officers who actually distributed the money.Moreover, it contended that receipts of money being getd by politicians, which the brigadier had mentioned, were also much supplyd to the FIA.As per the report, Brig Hamid said receipts had been sent to the General Headquarters (GHQ), but when the FIA asked Gen (R) Asad Durrani, he denied having any information about such receipts.Additionally, the FIA said degree bank account details, which would total the money trail needed for prosecution, had much been supplyd.TheIndianSubcontinent has not verified the content of the source.
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