SC makes president party in Asghar Khan case

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court of Pakistan has made the current office of president party in the case of distributing money by the establishment for making rival political alliance IJI against Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in the past.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard the Asghar Khan case.

SC seeking reply regarding presence of political cell in the Intelligence Bureau (IB) said that the supreme commander of Pakistan armed forces, the President, should not be involved in political activities.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary remarked during the hearing of the case that there should be no political cell in the presidency.

Member of Defence Ministry Commander Shahbaz presented the letter signed by Secretary of Defence regarding the nonexistence of political cell in ISI.

He told the court that the political cell in ISI might have existed in the past, but adding that no notification in this regard were found in the record.

Meanwhile Justice Arif Khilji in his remarks said that the question is why there should be no political cell in the presidency, adding that the answer is president is the supreme commander of Pakistan and also the symbol of unity.

He said that the involvement of president in the politics would affect the office of army chief among all positions of various other institutions under its command.

SC adjourned the hearing till October 15.