PML-N leadership should quit politics: Shafqat Mahmood

Lahore: PTI strongly endorses the Supreme Court judgment on Asghar Khan Case, terming it historic amidst hope that it will end the role of agencies in maneuvering election results. The ruling directs the abolition of any political cell in the presidency or the ISI or the Military Intelligence (MI). It directs the government to take action against the conspirators in accordance with the law and the constitution. The order also directs the FIA to investigate the politicians who received such funds and to initiate criminal proceedings against them and initiate civil proceedings for the recovery of such monies. In the detailed verdict, SC has stated that Younis Habib had confessed to distributing Rs40 million. The secret agencies have no right to make election cells and ISI and MI are duty bound to safeguard the borders. So far as their political activities are concerned, they are absolutely illegal. The verdict also states that the elections of ‘90 were rigged, and that the than President, Army Chief and DG ISI exercised their power illegally. It directs the government to take action against former army chief Gen (retd) Mirza Aslam Beg and former chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen (retd) Asad Durrani for violating the Constitution by manipulating the 1990 general elections. PTI lauds that the judiciary has emphasized the greater role of the parliament to settle the imbalance in civil-military relations.

The ruling is a landmark decision through which the Supreme Court has exposed the ugly face of politicians. PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif made a bold announcement that he would cooperate with Federal Investigation Agency’s probe into the Mehran Bank scandal, in which he, along with several other politicians, is alleged to have accepted funds from the ISI for the formation of an anti-PPP alliance before the 1990 elections. In light of the judgment PML (N) leadership should be made either to quit politics or be banned for life by the Election Commission. The verdict has exposed the true face of Nawaz Sharif, betraying the people’s mandate for a few rupees. The rule of law was necessary to cleanse Pakistani politics. Nawaz Sharif had disguised himself in the garb of a politician, but in reality he deceived the people of Pakistan by minting money. Sharif’s should give up their party positions to face legal proceedings as those accused should not hold positions of power that can be used to manipulate the outcome of the investigations.

PTI expresses hope that the decision would bring to an end the political role of the secret agency, and demands the Election Commission of Pakistan to ban all the politicians from participating in political activities, who were alleged to have received money from the military top brass to influence electoral results. The Supreme Court has played its part; it is up to us now to implement the decision. The culprits should be punished and justice should be ensured before the next coming elections. The decision of the Supreme Court should be implemented on all elections. Surely, the punishment of the wrong-doers in this case would be a significant deterrent for future adventurers in our armed forces.