Dr Faqir Hussain, Registrar Supreme Court of Pakistan, reads out the detailed judgment in human rights case No. 19 of 1996 (application by Air Marshal (Retd) Asghar Khan), at the Supreme Court building in Islamabad on Thursday. – Photo by APP

ISLAMABAD: Registrar Supreme Court Dr Faqir Hussain on Thursday read out the detailed verdict of 1990 election rigging case to the media representatives, DawnNews reported.

The apex court had issued a landmark short verdict on October 19 ordering legal proceedings against former head of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) General (Retd) Asad Durrani and former army chief General (Retd) Aslam Baig.

They had allegedly bankrolled politicians to stop the current ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) from winning the 1990 election.

The case was filed 16 years ago by Air Marshal (Retd) Asghar Khan .

The detailed verdict of 141 pages is drafted by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

The verdict declares that both the accused former generals of the armed forces defamed their institution, adding that doling out money to a group of politicians was an individual act rather than of the institution itself.

The verdict also said that the duty of secret agencies was to protect the borders instead of forming election cells.

The diary of Brigadier (Retd) Hamid Saeed is also included in the detailed verdict which carries names of the politicians who received money and the amount they accepted.

Political cell, if any, of the President House should be abolished, stated the verdict, adding the then president, army and ISI chiefs unfairly used authorities bestowed upon them and also violated the constitution.

The court, in its short verdict, 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 a trial according to the law.

The verdict also recommends holding the upcoming general elections on time and without any fear and doubts.

The text of the detailed verdict.

Opinion

Editorial

Rigging claims
Updated 04 May, 2024

Rigging claims

The PTI’s allegations are not new; most elections in Pakistan have been controversial, and it is almost a given that results will be challenged by the losing side.
Gaza’s wasteland
04 May, 2024

Gaza’s wasteland

SINCE the start of hostilities on Oct 7, Israel has put in ceaseless efforts to depopulate Gaza, and make the Strip...
Housing scams
04 May, 2024

Housing scams

THE story of illegal housing schemes in Punjab is the story of greed, corruption and plunder. Major players in these...
Under siege
Updated 03 May, 2024

Under siege

Whether through direct censorship, withholding advertising, harassment or violence, the press in Pakistan navigates a hazardous terrain.
Meddlesome ways
03 May, 2024

Meddlesome ways

AFTER this week’s proceedings in the so-called ‘meddling case’, it appears that the majority of judges...
Mass transit mess
03 May, 2024

Mass transit mess

THAT Karachi — one of the world’s largest megacities — does not have a mass transit system worth the name is ...