Pak SC orders action against two former chiefs of army, ISI

Pakistan's Supreme Court on Friday ordered the government to take legal action against former army chief Gen Mirza Aslam Beg and former ISI chief Asad Durrani for distributing millions of rupees among politicians to rig the 1990 general election.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry also said that any "political cell" operating in the presidency, ISI, Military Intelligence or Intelligence Bureau should be shut down immediately as such an institution is unconstitutional.

Any notification to create such a cell would be null and void, the bench ruled.

It further directed the Federal Investigation Agency to probe the distribution of funds among politicians so that legal action could be taken against them.

The apex court issued the directives in response to a petition filed in 1996 by former air force chief Asghar Khan against the distribution of funds by the ISI among politicians to prevent the Pakistan People's Party's victory in the 1990 polls.

The apex court resumed hearing the petition earlier this year after a gap of over 12 years.

While referring to the role played by Beg and Durrani, the bench said they had violated the Constitution and the law by meddling in politics.

Their actions had affected the image of the country and the armed forces, it said.

Though the two generals were retired, the court directed the government to take action against them according to the Constitution and the law.

The Bench said late President Ghulam Ishaq Khan had created an "election cell" in the presidency which had rigged the 1990 polls and polluted the political system.

Both the presidency and the army chief cannot create such cells or interfere in the political process, it said. During the hearing of the case, the apex court was informed that the "election cell" in the presidency had received Rs 140 million from banker Younis Habib for rigging the polls.

... contd.

ALSO READ

PM should clear confusion over UPA's China policy: BJP

I am innocent, nothing will come out in the case, says Pawan Kumar Bansal

Nawaz Sharif: The Lion of Punjab roars in Pakistan

Tired of ragging, engineering student jumps before local train, dies