PML-N rejects FIA investigation in Asghar Khan’s case

Rejecting an investigation by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in the Asghar Khan’s case, the Pakistan Muslim League-N has said it accepted the decision and will welcome the probe by an independent commission.

The apex court a couple of days ago declared that the 1990 elections had been rigged by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), ruling out to take an action against former military chief General (Retd) Aslam Baig and DG ISI Gen Asad Durrani.

Giving his party’s stance over the matter, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan has said that the PML-N wanted investigations through an independent judicial commission.

In his view, the FIA was under the control of the ministry headed by Rehman Malik.

He noted, “We accept the SC decision in letter and spirit and are ready to cooperate, but a probe through the FIA is totally unacceptable.”

It is vital to mention here that the PML-N was part of the nine-party Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) that was formed and supported by the then military establishment in a bid to defeat the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in the 1990 elections.

Expressing surprise over the SC move to give responsibility of the investigation to the FIA, he said the court knew its performance over the past four years.

The opposition leader questioned the FIA’s role in investigations into various corruption scams including NICL, OGDCL and Haj scandal.

Although he welcomed the verdict but he expressed reservations over paragraph 14 of the judgment in which the government had been directed to carry out an investigation through the FIA into allegations against politicians, including Nawaz Sharif.

He further said, “We are ready to face accountability. However, the SC (in its verdict) has called for a transparent inquiry which is not possible through the FIA. There should be an open trial. Nothing should be kept secret so that people should know who had given money to whom.

In his view, the proposed commission should investigate the role of the agencies since the time former premier Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

Chaudhary Nisar continued PML-Q leader Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf were trying to politically exploit the SC decision by maligning the PML-N. “For the past 48 hours, all guns are blazing at the party.

He also defended his leader Nawaz Sharif, saying the PML-N did not even exist during the 1990 elections and his current party chief was then a member of the PML headed by former prime minister Mohammad Khan Junejo.

He also claimed that misuse of presidency was still going on and President Asif Ali Zardari was channeling public money to support his PPP.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Oct 22 2012. Filed under Pakistan, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.