ISLAMABAD Attorney General Latif Khan Khosa was removed last week from the constitutional office after the Supreme Court initiated a probe into allegations of corruption against him, official sources and evidence obtained by this correspondence suggest.
In an unprecedented move, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has summoned the former AG to an open court hearing on Oct 21 to reply to an allegation that he took Rs3 million as bribe to get a convict acquitted during the time Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar occupied the office of Chief Justice.
The convict, Maghfoor Shah, a former general manager in the National Highway Authority, had been sentenced to five years' imprisonment and fined over Rs3 million and 200,000 US dollars after having been found guilty of corruption. After failing to get relief from the Supreme Court, he claims to have bribed Mr Khosa for his help.
'So there was no other way and we were compelled to give bribe of 30 lacks (sic) to Attorney General Mr Latif Khan Khosa. He promised to acquit us within a month with all benefits if we pay him an advance of 30 lacks. On his demand the advance was paid on Feb 19, 09,' Maghfoor alleged in a Sept 25 affidavit.
A notice from the Chief Justice served on Mr Khosa and others read 'Copy of the complaint along with annexure be also sent to Sardar Latif Muhammad Khan Khosa, ASC (Advocate Supreme Court). He is also required to attend the court along with DAG-1, Umer Draz and Mian Tariq.'
DAG-1 mentioned in the notice stands for the office of Deputy Attorney General, which is currently held by Dil Muhammad Ali Zai, who being a witness to the alleged bribery incident, has also been asked to appear in the case.
The complaint before the Supreme Court comprises affidavits by Maghfoor Shah and his wife Dr Mazhar Jamal and a letter addressed to the Chief Justice dated Sept 24.
The complainant has also accused the former attorney general of offering him Rs6 million through a middleman to withdraw complaint. '...he presented a receipt for signatures in the form of an application addressed to the chief justice which was fabricated an absolutely false,' said an affidavit submitted to the Chief Justice on Oct 13.
The application which Mr Khosa's man allegedly wanted Mr Maghfoor to sign said 'Such amount was never paid as bribe to the attorney general. Our complaints may pleased be filed as we have no grievance against anyone.' The affidavit goes on to claim that Mr Khosa's man (named Mian Tariq)... 'also said that if you sign this even I can pay you double the amount i.e. Rs60 lacs, if you want.'
Talking to DawnNews, Mr Latif Khosa categorically rejected the allegations and said that a man convicted by a court of corruption could not be taken seriously. He vowed to defend himself by appearing on October 21.
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