A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry also directed Registrar's office to send a copy of the order along with other documents and a letter to the principal secretary, informing him that the office of the president had been made a party to the case. The bench also held that appropriate arrangements be made for appearance (before the Supreme Court) of secretary to the President.
The Chief Justice observed that there should be no political cell in the President's House because "the president is head of the state and also the commander of armed forces." Justice Chaudhry said the documents obtained by the court revealed that there was a political cell working under the supervision of the then president, Ghulam Ishaq Khan, in the President's House during 1990 general election.
One of the members of the bench, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, observed that president was the supreme commander of armed forces and if he involved himself in political activities it would have a direct adverse effect on services chiefs. The Chief Justice revealed that meetings were also held between the then president, Farooq Leghari; the then Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto; and Naseerullah Babar regarding the cell and for making an alliance of political parties.
Roedad Khan and Ijalal Haider Zaidi were heading the cell in the presidency during Ghulam Ishaq Khan's tenure. Roedad Khan also requested the court on Thursday to become a party to the case. His plea was accepted and he was asked to appear on the next date of hearing. "If Ijalal Haider Zaidi comes forward to become a party to the case, we can consider his application too," the Chief Justice said while addressing Akram Sheikh, the counsel for former army Chief General Aslam Beg.
During the course of proceedings, the Defence Secretary submitted a signed letter in the court, in which he maintained that there was no political cell in the ISI. In pursuance of the order of September 13 and its reference which had been made in the order of October 3, Secretary Defence Lieutenant General Asif Yasin Malik has submitted a written reply.
Secretary Interior Khawaja Sadique Akbar submitted a statement, informing the court that Intelligence Bureau (IB) was under the control of Cabinet Division. "Thus in view of such information we issue notice to secretary cabinet along with copies of orders with directions to certify as to whether there is a political cell in IB presently or in the past," he apprised the bench. Later, the hearing of case was adjourned till October 15.