Politicians of all hues have to clear themselves

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court in its historic detailed judgement in the Asghar Khan case has demanded a transparent investigation against Altaf Hussain of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Mian Nawaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League-N, Makhdoom Javed Hashmi of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf and other politicians to establish the allegations of taking money from the Inter Services Intelligence to win the 1990 election.
Though all the politicians have been denying the charge but after the judgement they all will have to join the investigation process to prove themselves ‘innocent’.

Interestingly, the name of chief Minister Punjab Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has not appeared in any of the lists of politicians who benefited from the ISI money. A number of former and present PPP leaders have also been named in the judgment who received the funds from ISI and they include a former prime minister Mairaj Khalid.

The judgement handed down by the Chief Justice of Pakistan has not differentiated the lists of politicians who benefited from the ISI in 1990 submitted by General (R) Asad Durrani, Brig (R) Hamid Saeed and Younis Habib and has ordered an investigation into the matter.

According to the statement of Younis Habib under section 161 of the CrPC before Investigating Officer at Karachi disclosed political and other pay offs as: Gen (R) Mirza Aslam Beg Rs140 m; Altaf Hussain (MQM) Rs20 million; Nawaz Sharif, Ex Prime Minister (1993) Rs3.5 m and on 27-9-90 he was paid Rs2.5 m; Yousaf Memon (Advocate) (for disbursement to Javed Hashmi, MNA and others Rs50 m; Jam Sadiq Ali (the then Chief Minister Sindh) Rs70 m; Jam Sadiq Ali (1992) Rs150 m; Liaqat Jatoi (1993) Rs01 m; Chief Minister Sind through Imtiaz Sheikh (1993) Rs12 m; Mr. Afaq (MQM) (1993) Rs05 m; Ajmal Khan, Ex Federal Minister (1993) Rs1.4 m, Mr. Jam Mashooq (26-9-93) Rs0.5 m; Mr. Dost Mohammad Faizi (26-9-93) Rs1.0 m; Mr. Jam Haider (26-9-93) Rs2.0 m, and Mr. Jam Mashooq (26-9-93) Rs3.0 m.

The same statement under the caption: Political Pay Offs To Mr. Javed Hashmi MNA, says that Mr Hashmi was the partner of M/s ADAGE Advertising (Pvt) Ltd., from 30-10-1986 and resigned on 6-1-1990. “The following payments were made to Mr. Javed Hashmi through Telegraphic Transfer and the Bank Drafts by Mr. Yousaf Memon (a man in between Yunus Habib and Javed Hashmi) through various bank transfers: Total: Rs12.8m. According to the statement of Mr. Rahat Malik, the amount drawn by him was handed over to Mr. Javed Hashmi. - Rs. 14.9 million was paid by Mr. M. Yamin in presence of Mr. Yousaf Memon in Oct 1990 in cash to Mr. Javaid Hashmi in Room No.1 of MNA Hostel, Islamabad. Grand total: Rs27.7 million.”

The judgement further says that “Details/names of the beneficiaries of money given by Muhammad Yunus A. Habib in CMA No.1034/2012: That Mr. Yousaf Memon Advocate in two different TV Programmes of GEO News channel (one by Kamran Khan and the other by Nazir Laghari) admitted that a house was purchased in F-6/2 Islamabad in the name of Mr. Javed Hashmi. He also admitted that 50% of the amount was invested in the purchase of house (Kasim 1 al-Multan).

Admission of one of the recipients: In the course of the proceedings, it was alleged that one of the recipients, namely, Syeda Abida Hussain, as per reports published in the newspapers, had acknowledged receipt of the money.”

The SC judgement has also mentioned the Details and names of the recipients of money given by Lt. Gen. (R) M. Asad Durrani in his affidavit dated 24.07.1994. they include Mir Afzal 10 m; Nawaz Sharif 3.5 m; Lt. Gen. (R) Rafaqat 5.6 m (for media); Jamat-e-Islami 5m; Abida Hussain 1m; Altaf Hussain Qureshi & Mustafa Sadiq 5m; Misc. & smaller group 3.339m; Jatoi 5m; Jam Sadiq 5m; Junejo 2.5m; Pir Pagara 2m; Maulana Salah Ud-Din 0.3m; Misc. & smaller groups 5.4m; Humayun Mari 1.5m; Jamali 4m; Kakar 1.0m; K Baluch 0.5m; Jam Yousaf 0.75m; Bizenjo 0.50m; Nadeem Mengal 1m; Khar 2 m; Hafeez Pirzada 3m; Sarwar Cheema 0.5m and Mairaj Khalid 0.2 m.”

Details/names of the recipients of money given by Brig. (R) Hamid Saeed Akhtar in his statement dated 18.10.2012 made before the Court: “In compliance with the directions six accounts were opened in different banks. Funds started pouring in from 16th September 1990 onwards. By 22nd October 1990, Rs140 million had been received in these accounts. Thereafter following amounts were remitted as ordered by DGMI: Rs03m to Mr. Muzaffar Hussain Shah; Rs0.3m to Mr. Ghulam Ali Nizamani, Rs02m to Mr. Arbab Ghulam Rahim Rs05m to Mr. Yousaf Haroon. The Supreme Court judgement also quoted old reports of The News and Jang in its detailed judgement.

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