Constitutional Bench Requests Report on Closure of Political Cells in Sensitive Institutions

Islamabad: The Supreme Court’s constitutional bench has sought a report on the closure of political cells in sensitive institutions in relation to the Asghar Khan case. The court has directed the Additional Attorney General to submit a response from the Ministry of Defence.
During the hearing, the Additional Attorney General informed the bench that political cells had been shut down in sensitive institutions following the verdict in the Asghar Khan case. Justice Musarat Hilali remarked that this admission confirmed the existence of political cells in these institutions.
Lawyer Salman Akram Raja argued that it was an established fact that sensitive institutions had political cells. He pointed out that individuals involved in colluding during the 1990 elections, including former officials Aslam Beg, Asad Durrani, and businessman Younus Habib, had confessed to their involvement in the rigging. Raja further questioned what actions had been taken against them.
The Additional Attorney General stated that the FIA had closed its inquiry into the Asghar Khan case, as no evidence of political bribes had been found. However, Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi asked whether the recovered funds from the distribution among politicians had been accounted for. He emphasized that several political figures had been implicated in the allegations of financial distribution.
The Additional Attorney General responded that no conclusive evidence had been found by the FIA regarding the distribution of money. He added that Asghar Khan, the original petitioner, had passed away.
Justice Jamal Mandokhel questioned whether the FIA had done its due diligence and whether the heads of sensitive institutions had given affidavits confirming the closure of political cells. The Additional Attorney General reiterated that sensitive institutions had no role in politics as per the Constitution and the law, and the political cells had been closed following the court’s decision.
Justice Mandokhel insisted that if affidavits had not been collected earlier, they should be obtained now from the heads of the relevant institutions.
The case was adjourned with the constitutional bench requesting a report from the Ministry of Defence.