The Supreme Court here on Saturday issued notices to Nawaz Sharif, Javed Hashmi and 19 others in the Asghar Khan case for June 06. A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar also issued notices to former Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant-General Asad Durrani (retd), Director-General National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and a number of officials from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Earlier, Attorney General of Pakistan submitted a report before the court and informed the bench that cabinet had decided to enforce Supreme Court's orders in letter and spirit. He also told the court that the cabinet has directed the FIA to continue investigation in the case. CJP questioned what strategy has been devised to ensure that those who received the money return it back.
On October 19, 2012, a Supreme Court bench headed by former CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had directed the executive to take action against former generals Beg and Durrani for distributing millions of rupees among politicians against the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) ahead of the 1990 general elections. The SC had also asked the FIA to probe into the matter against politicians, including Nawaz Sharif, who had allegedly received the money.
The funds were provided by Younas Habib, the chief executive officer of Habib Bank Limited (HBL), then a government bank. According to the letter, Nawaz Sharif had allegedly received Rs 3.5 million; Mir Afzal Khan Rs 10 million; the then Lieutenant-General Rafaqat, Rs 5.6 million [for distributing among journalists, Abida Hussain, Rs 1 million; Jamaat-e-Islami, Rs 5 million and senior journalist Altaf Hussain Qureshi, Rs 500,000. In Sindh, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi received Rs 5 million, Jam Sadiq got Rs 5 million, Mohammad Khan Junejo Rs 250,000, Pir Pagara, Rs 2 million, Maulana Salahuddin, Rs 300,000 and other small groups in Sindh got Rs 5.4 million. In Balochistan, Humayun Marri received Rs 1.5 million. The letter also contained the names of Bizenjo and Kakar tribes.
The SC in its verdict had said former president Ghulam Ishaq Khan, army chief Beg, and ISI chief Durrani, acted in violation of the constitution by facilitating a group of politicians and political parties, to ensure their success in the general election of 1990.
Chief Justice of Pakistan also expressed displeasure over provision of unnecessary security to different political personalities and ordered authorities concerned to impound vehicles from all including government officials and departments which are in their possession without entitlement.
During the course of hearing CJP remarked that security given to Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, Ahsan Iqbal, Ayaz Sadiq, Zahid Hamid is justified to some extent but why the security is being provided to Rana Sanaullah, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Anusha Rehman, Abid Sher Ali and Ahsan Iqbal's son.
Addressing the IGP, the CJP said you have provided security to those who abuse judiciary. I will not allow plundering national exchequers in the name of security.
CJP said he knew that police had given him security equal to Hamza Shahbaz and denied to provide security to judges of Supreme Court. Police has been deployed only for the protection of politicians and important personalities. It was informed to CJP that 4000 people have been provided security in Sindh, 1400 in Balochistan and 701 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. CJP showed annoyance over the report.
Proceeding with luxury vehicles case, Chief Justice also sought a report on vehicles under use by government officials by June 05. A counsel representing the dissolved government told the court that former prime minister had approved the purchase of luxury cars. "It was on the former premier's orders that these cars were then given to officials," he added. The law officer pointed out that under 1980 rules, the prime minister was empowered to allocate cars to ministers and officials beyond their entitlement.
To this, the CJP remarked, "Principal Secretary to the prime minister Fawad Hasan Fawad must have approved the purchase and not the former premier himself." "Not a single car was given out on the signatures of the former premier. How did Fawad Hasan Fawad give out cars in place of the prime minister?" he asked. CJP further questioned as to why Abid Sher Ali was given a luxury car and sought a detailed report on the matter on Tuesday.
During the hearing, Punjab chief secretary informed the court that the former Punjab government has taken back vehicles given to officials. The CJP in response remarked, "We will not let those cars stand in garages and be ruined. They should be handed over to the caretaker government." Chief Justice directed the Punjab chief secretary to recover the cars by today evening and inform the registrar.
"Action will be taken against board of governors of the companies which were given vehicles without entitlement," Chief Justice added. "Court orders should be adhered fully," he asserted while forming a commission to submit a report on the progress of the orders within two days. Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar also summoned Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Tariq Pasha along with the record of smuggled cars.
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