Air marshal (retd) Asghar Khan. – File Photo

ISLAMABAD: After remaining silent for two decades, former chief of Mehran Bank Younis Habib came out with startling revelations when he told the Supreme Court that the country’s top military and political leadership forced him to arrange funds for the anti-PPP politicians before the elections in 1990, DawnNews reported.

A three-member Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, on Thursday resumed hearing of a petition filed by Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan pertaining to illegal distribution of funds by the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI).

Habib submitted a written statement before the bench, saying that former president Ghulam Ishaq Khan, former army chief General Aslam Beg, the then ISI head Lt Gen (retd) Asad Durrani and Roedad Khan had used him for the purpose.

He said that Ishaq Khan and Beg had asked him to arrange some 400 million rupees to be used for what they called ‘national interest’.

He went on to say that his bank had arranged the said money by opening fake accounts.

Around 140 million rupees were given to the Inter Services Intelligence, the statement further said.

Habib said that the politicians were hesitant in taking money from the ISI therefore he was used for the purpose.

He apologised for being a part of the scandal in his statement and said he was under tremendous pressure and was left with no choice other than to follow the orders.

The chief justice ordered for copies of the statement to be provided to Khan, Beg and Lt-Gen (retd) Asad Durrani, directing them to submit their reply by tomorrow.

Durrani had submitted his reply after receiving the copy of the statement same day. In his reply, he confirmed that he had distributed around 140 million rupees.