ISLAMABAD: The country’s apex court, on Monday, put the Asghar Khan implementation case on pause when its registrar office issued a cancellation of its hearing scheduled for March 19.
Earlier, the Supreme Court (SC) had directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to complete its inquiry on February 11 as it resumed hearing of the case about the implementation of the landmark 2012 Asghar Khan verdict on a financial scam that had hit the 1990s elections.
The agency was also asked to submit a report within four weeks.
Justice Gulzar Ahmad had headed a three-member bench and stated during the hearing that the FIA report would be reviewed when the defence secretary submitted his reply.
Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan were also part of the bench.
Regarding its order to complete the inquiry involving retired military officials, the court had remarked, “we will check if our orders are followed or not.”
Justice Ahmad had questioned why court martial inquiries had not been initiated against military officers. To which, the attorney general had responded, “Evidence has been found during the inquiry and court-martial is the only way forward.”
Upon hearing this, Justice Ahmad had remarked that former Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)chief Altaf Hussain had also received money yet his names did not come forward in either the case or the FIA report.
The attorney general said, “Hussain is not in the country.”
He also told the court, “FIA report included his name,” while adding that a military officer could also be court-martialed after retirement for committing fraud or corruption.
The court was also briefed that the government was in contact with the British government regarding Hussain and a few others accused persons.
Justice Ahmad had concluded that the FIA merely wanted to get rid of the case while adjourning the case for four weeks.
