The Express Tribune
Former chief of Mehran Bank Younis Habib admitted in front of the court on Thursday that he distributed Rs400 million to politicians before the 1990 elections.
Habib, while submitting his written statement in the Supreme Court during the hearing of Asghar Khan’s petition, apologised for being a part of the scandal. He told the court that he was under so much pressure that he did not have any choice left.
In his statements, Habib revealed that former Army chief Aslam Baig introduced him to then president Ghulam Ishaq Khan.
Baig telephoned him in March 1990 and told him that the president wants him to arrange for Rs350 million, said Habib. But, when Habib said that it was impossible to arrange for such a huge amount, he was taken into custody by the Federal Investigative Agency (FIA).
He further revealed that due to the pressure, he arranged for Rs1.48 billion out of which Rs400 million were distributed while the rest were invested.
The bank account numbers in which the money was transferred was also provided by Baig, claimed Habib.
Asghar Khan’s petition alleges that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) rigged the 1990 elections by distributing millions of rupees among several politicians.
During today’s hearing, other respondents including former ISI chief Lt Gen (retd) Asad Durrani and Baig also appeared before the court.
Asghar Khan’s lawyer Raja Salman, speaking to the media, said that the prosecution of two people is not important, rather it is the role of institutions in the country.
He added that his client does not wish that the next 64 years of the country are the same as the past 64 years. “This is the purpose of the petition.”
“The task of punishing [the accused] is of the government and the court. It is the duty of the government to prosecute and proceed against them,” he added.
He also said that the Supreme Court can give a verdict which might compel the Election Commission to hold those involved in the scandal ineligible.
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