ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that under no circumstance will the famous Asghar Khan case be closed down and asked the Federal Investigation agency (FIA) to point out those with evidence, who had received the money to manipulate the 1990 general elections.The case pertains to distribution of Rs140 million among various politicians for defeating PPP leader Benazir Bhutto in the 1990 general elections.A two-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh, resumed hearing of the case with regard to non-implementation of its October 19, 2012 judgment in the case.The court directed the agency to submit a supplementary report stating from where the relevant documentary evidence concerning the case could be obtained. Last year, the FIA had recommended closure of the case, as no legally accepted evidence was available with them on the basis of which criminal proceedings could be initiated against the accused politicians.The court was informed that the accurate amount given to politicians was not visible and even the banks had not provided an appropriate record at this stage. Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh said the court will not close the case but proceed in a phasedmanner. He said the court will get the required evidence and asked the FIA to point out all those politicians with evidence, who had received the money.He observed that the court will not follow the FIA’s path and asked it to also mention in its report those who had refused to take the money. Salman Akram Raja, counsel for Asghar Khan’s family, told the court that certain individuals had accepted their role in the scandal and action should be taken against them.Meanwhile, the court sought supplementary report from the FIA and adjourned the hearing until April 22. Last year in December the court had issued notices to the legal heirs of Asghar Khan for their points of view after the FIA recommended closure of inquiry for initiating action against the accused politicians.In its report, the FIA had contended that since no legally accepted evidence was available with it on the basis of which criminal case may be initiated against the accused politicians, the case merited closure.The FIA had submitted that it was a settled rule of jurisprudence that in the absence of corroboratory evidence conviction could not be based on hearsay. The legal heirs of Asghar Khan, including his spouse Amna Asghar, daughters Nasreen Ahmed Khattak, Shereen Awan and son Ali, had opposed the FIA’s recommendations and stated that they wanted a logical conclusion of the trial.
04-03-2019, 02:39 PM
Asghar Khan case: We?ll get our hands on proof, says SC
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