ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday, issuing a two-page written order, summoned secretary defence to appear in person before the court on January 25, along with progress report in Air Marshal (r) Asghar Khan case.
On January 11, a two-judge bench headed by former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice (r) Mian Saqib Nisar, dismissed the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) recommendation for the closure of the case and sought a reply from FIA too.
The order stated that the court is not satisfied with reasoning and conclusion of FIA that no material had been found and observed that there are certain areas of the probe should have been extended and required material could be collected to make out a case for prosecution and trial.
The court observed that counsel for the Asghar Khan’s family, submitting the application, pointed out that the contents and findings of the judgment passed by the apex court in the case have not been considered by FIA and opposed the closure of the case.
“Let a reply be filed by FIA to the noted application moved by the legal heir of the Asghar Khan, within a period of one week. Besides, notice is issued to the secretary defence to appear in person and appraise the court in writing within one week about the progress in the process/proceedings,” the court ruled.
Justice (r) Nasir, in a previous hearing, had remarked that the court is not satisfied with the FIA reply that suggested the bench for the closure of the 1990s case.
In 1996, Asghar Khan had filed a human rights petition in the SC, accusing doling out money to a group of politicians in the 1990s.