Home »General News » Pakistan » Asghar Khan case: PPP in no mood to launch probe

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  • Dec 29th, 2012
  • Comments Off on Asghar Khan case: PPP in no mood to launch probe
The ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is said to be in no mood to launch an investigation into the Asghar Khan case. The Supreme Court, in its short verdict on October 19, 2012, had directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to conduct a transparent criminal investigation against all the politicians involved and, if sufficient evidence was collected, they should be sent for trial according to the law. Counsel Wasim Sajjad filed a review petition in the court in November 17, 2012.

With the passage of more than two months, sources said that the government has no intention of launching an investigation after an understanding was reached at the top level of PPP and PML-N. The deal, analysts maintain is for the PPP not to launch an investigation against those who accepted bribes from the ISI and in return the PML-N would not be proactive in the case against PPP co-chairman and President Asif Ali Zardari for holding dual office.

The sources further said that with the general elections just around the corner the government does not want to open another front before the elections by launching an investigation into the case, which involves billions of rupees allegedly distributed among various politicians including Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif by ISI in the 1990s election. FIA sources also revealed that after the understanding reached between PPP and PML-N, no joint investigation team has been formed due to lack of interest on government's part.

"FIA cannot proceed on such a high profile case without the will of the sitting government," said an official of the FIA on condition of anonymity. However, a senior PML-N leader, while rejecting the impression of any deal with the government in the Asghar Khan case, said that PPP was not willing to carry on probe into the case as it believed that FIA "may not be able to establish guilt against the PML-N." He further said that PML-N was not worried if there was a fair investigation into the case since the party's chief Nawaz Sharif had accepted the Supreme Court's order to probe allegations.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2012


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