Former Army Chief General (retd.) Aslam Beg has expressed reservations over the SC verdict in Asghar Khan Case but said he had confidence in the judiciary.
In a TV interview‚ Beg said he had no knowledge whether or not ISI was distributing money and he came to know about it through the statement of Nasirullah Babar in the parliament.
He said that the then President Ghulam Ishaq called him at the Presidency and show him 17 heinous allegations against Benazir’s government. He said that he presented the allegations before 18 to 20 Generals and they recommended to the President to take any decision with consensus and in accordance with the Constitution.
BEg said that after a week of his meeting with Ghulam Ishaq Khan, Benazir’s government was dismissed and Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi was nominated caretaker prime minister.
He said that he was not aware the Director General Maj Gen Asad Durrani was distributing money among politicians to influence the elections.
Replying to a query about Deputy Prime Minister Pervaiz Elahi’s statement that he was offered money by the former army chief but they declined, Beg said that Chaudhry Brothers were not in position that they were offered money.
The former military chief quoted a letter of Durrani, which he wrote to Benazir Bhutto, saying that the ISI distributed money among four PPP politicians including Ghulam Mustafa Khar, Malik Meraj Khalid, Hafeez Peerzada and Sarwar Cheema.
He questioned why not those names were not included in the affidavit which the former DG ISI submitted in the apex court. He raised question over the list of politicians, saying that it was doubtful.
Aslam Beg said that the money was distributed with the consent of the then president and caretaker government. He said the money was provided by a person and not banks.
Beg said Asad Durrani had written a letter to Mohtarama Benazir Bhutto mentioning that 4 PPP leaders had received money‚ whereas there is no mention of PPP men in the affidavit.
Aslam Beg expressed reservations over the Supreme Court ruling but said he has confidence in the judiciary.
He added that Nasirullah Babar had confirmed that Nawaz Sharif had not received the money.
Beg added that the then US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger had played a role in the hanging of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
Regarding Asghar Khan he said that he was anti-state. He said that Ashar Khan had invited General Ziaul Haq to take over the county affairs. He also condemned the 1977 takeover of Ziaul Haq and the execution of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1979.
He said that he would not file a review petition in the Supreme Court as he has no trust in it. He said that he would also not regret over his actions.
If ever there was a genuine oppotunity for an Army chief to takeover it was when one CMLA died the next i.e COAS to take over.
Aslam Beg instead opted for election in 88. Had he any intention to ever become President or CMLA it fell to his lap, yet he refused. Now what compelled him to approach President and hand him over very serious charges against Benazir Bhutto( as he states in his interview). The courts must make public those charges, otherwise Aslam Beg will always get benifit of doubt, and any decision by the court will be doubtful in many people view.
If those charges turn out to be personal or trivial, then nation will genuinly know true face of Army Gens of those days
Supreme Court is too ploiticised to be believed. It conveniently ommitted the name of those who got money, proposed punsihments to those who provided evedence. It also tried to Punish Asif Zardari for the crimes of Ghulam Ishaq Khan.
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