SC seeks govt reply on ISI’s political cell
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry sought reply from the federal government if it wants to continue the political cell of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) or not.
Heading a three-member bench of the apex court, hearing the Asghar Khan case against political funding by the ISI in the run-up to 1990 elections, the Chief Justice Chaudhry said no such political cell is not admitted of in the wake of July 31, 2009 ruling.
The court held that Attorney General was queried in this case on June 26, 1997 ‘if the government wants to abolish this cell in the ISI’; however, no reply has thus far been received.
The Attorney General pleaded the court for time so that he may elicit instructions from the government and submit the written rejoinder.
Granting him time till July 30, the bench directed him to make it abundantly clear to Prime Minister and high-ups of the armed forces that this principle stands explicitly defined in rulings of July 31, 2009 and June 19, 2012 regarding the disqualification of Yousuf Raza Gilani that now only those functions will be permissible to perform which are in absolutely harmony with the Constitution.
Earlier, the Chief Justice Chaudhry remarked that the judiciary wants to see the Pak Army stable as an institution; however, it wants to emphasize that there will be the supremacy of the Constitution alone, adding Bangladesh-like model cannot come here.
The bench directed Defence Secretary Nargis Sethi to tell the court if defence ministry will represent the ISI and Military Intelligence (MI) IN Asghar Khan case or a counsel will be appointed for the purpose.
The court directed the Attorney General to present the rejoinder in connection with the investigation reports on scandals of Mehran Bank and Habib Bank.
