The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed annoyance over the working of intelligence agencies, terming their activities “beyond given mandate”. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry remarked that the secret agencies were not working as per their mandate, saying, “We cannot compromise on the interests of the state.”
The apex court resumed the hearing of the Mehrangate scandal by warning Younis Habib – the central figure of the scandal – against scandalising the court, and asked him to submit documents and applications in accordance with the rules of the apex court. Younis, former chief of the defunct Mehran Bank, has recently written a letter directly addressed to the chief justice. Younis then sought an unconditional apology from the Supreme Court in this regard.
Former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Asad Durrani said he had acted in personal capacity, and that the ISI was not involved in the distribution of funds to certain politicians. The CJP asked Durrani if he was accepting that he had distributed the money among politicians. “You and Aslam Beg were generals when this happened, and we don’t know the consequences of this act,” he said.
“How did you, being a government employee, function in your personal capacity? You may take a lawyer if you wish so,” Justice Khilji Arif Hussain asked the former ISI head. Durrani replied, “I kept the ISI out of it all. I will prefer to hire the services of a lawyer.”
The chief justice asked Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq to read out a news story published in an English daily about the role of secret agencies. After reading the relevant paragraphs, the attorney general told the bench that he could not verify the authenticity of the said news item. The bench issued notices to the newspaper’s reporter to appear and assist the court by providing classified documents that he had mentioned in his story. The attorney general told the court that the government had no objection if the secret statements of Asad Durrani and Naseerullah Babar were made public. He said that he had gone through the relevant record of Asghar Khan’s case with the cooperation of the Registrar’s Office and could not find anything classified, as the said material had already been known to the public and the media. “A written order will be passed to make the report public during the next hearing of the case,” the CJP remarked.
The bench questioned the attorney general about the unavailability of the enquiry commission’s report on Mehran Bank. The attorney general replied that the interior secretary was out of country and he would apprise the bench about the status of reports after contacting him. The Supreme Court then adjourned the hearing until March 30. On March 9, Durrani testified before the apex court that he had received instructions from the then chief of army staff Mirza Aslam Beg to make arrangements for disbursement of Rs 140 million among certain candidates to influence the 1990 general elections.
Not only the secret service agencies but also the politicians and political parties work at times outside the confines mandated to them. This is true for all countries whether developed or developing with only one difference, which is they are held to account in most developed countries and only some developing countries
The hearing of this case, known popularly as Asghar Khan Case, and the investigation of the memo commission to find if there are grounds to frame charges against the President of Pakistan are fundamentally important to the state of Pakistan
If something like this had happened in US all hell would have broken loose. Can anyone imagining US President asking the Russian or the Chinese Chief of Staff to have firm words with Chief of US Army Satff Gen Raymond T Odierno in return for disclosure of state secrets including the defence secrets.
This is the most disgusting mind set and if the state of Pakistan is to survive this jingoistic whether present in the civil leadership (both Zardari and Nawaz have abundance of this) or the army (referring only to retired Gen Musharraf) needs to be curbed very very strongly.
Now you are showing your color. You are just angling to support the junta and blame the civilian politicians. The analogy you are casting are appropriate for ant-heads only.
The problem with our country is, all of our leaders and chiefs are or foriegn funded or their oppointies. so if we expect any jingoism from such persons that is preposturous from our side. we need drastic changes in our mind set first
we need to follow one polocy or idiology which define every thing.
just imagine how ignominous it is for our chiefs to accept that all of our f -16 s were not more than a flying birds when it needed most on obl raid at abbotabad. For all those years they had been telling us that once we have f-16s our defence would be invincible and the time it needed most it failed.
A order was given by our airchief to retailiate,birds were aired but they could,nt find there targets because they recieve target information through sattelittes and we all know who controls them . its hard for americans too to declare the whole story in this way they will not find more customers for their arsenals.
What nation wants from SC?? only statements or decisions as well!!
Decisions would be nice. Absent that, if it raises public awareness that might be good for the future of the country…
It is also a matter of character. Most Generals of other armies would consider some of the actions of Pakistani Generals beneath their dignity. Army officers are supposed to be gentlemen, and gentlemen do not do such things. A Japanese General would commit Hara-Kiri if he found himself in the same situation as Durrani.
One hopes, for the sake of Pakistan Army, that an example will be made of these officers, who have brought shame to a brave body of troops.
You are right on the point. An army officer, while in uniform, does not meddle in civilian politics, openly or in secret, with their own money or government's. It's true in US, true in India, true in France-UK or other democracies. What happened in Pakistan was gross abuse of power, interjection of corruption in civil society and undermining democratic process with public money. It's serious…
The court has failed to protect rights of the common people. This is evident by your statements even. Why the court took 16 years to decide on a case of national importance?
30,000 cases are pending How long would you take to fix them?
If something like this had happened in US all hell would have broken loose. Can anyone imagining US President asking the Russian or the Chinese Chief of Staff to have firm words with Chief of US Army Satff Gen Raymond T Odierno in return for disclosure of state secrets including the defence secrets.
This is the most disgusting mind set and if the state of Pakistan is to survive this jingoistic attitude whether present in the civil leadership (both Zardari and Nawaz have abundance of this) or the army (referring only to retired Gen Musharraf) needs to be curbed very very strongly.
CJ is not as pious as he tries to portary himself to be. He makes a lot of statements but I have yet to see him make any hard decisions. I would believe in him if takes actions.
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