The family of the late Air Marshal Asghar Khan (retd) has made the right decision. The question is why should it suffer on account of FIA's incompetence and complacency? It is quite unbelievable that the FIA has proposed to the top court to close the Asghar Khan case, as the case is more than 25-year-old and the relevant banks do not have the details of deposits made at the time due to which the Agency is unable to initiate criminal proceedings. As pointed out by the Air Marshal's family, over the last six years, no attempt has been made by the FIA to procure documentary or oral evidence from Brig Hamid Saeed (retd) or any other retired army officer, which effects poorly on the ability and desire of the FIA to carry out its duty in accordance with court's directions.

There is no denying that 'law will take its own course' has become a cliché. It is therefore quite unfortunate that corrupt people, particularly the powerful, are often found to take refuge under this umbrella with a view to lengthening the court proceedings. FIA's strategy, too, aims at further lengthening the court proceedings in the Asghar Khan case. But the question is why prime minister Imran Khan has acquiesced to FIA's stance although he has always held the late Air Marshal Asghar in high esteem because the latter's conduct was always guided by deep political ethics.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019