No more IJI, only democratic system to survive: CJP

     ISLAMABAD, Oct 16 (APP): Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar
Muhammad Chaudhry on Tuesday said that no more political alliance
like Islami Jamhoori Ittehad would be allowed in the country, and
only democratic system would thrive in which lied the national
salvation.
     He was heading a three-Judge bench, hearing decades old case of
former air chief marshal Asghar Khan regarding alleged distribution
of money among a set of politicians forming Islami Jamhoori Ittehad
by the civil and military authorities to create hurdles in the way
of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led by late Benazir Bhutto during 1990
elections.
     The Chief Justice further observed that the court through its
various judgments had been trying that the system should not be
derailed.
     He further said that through apex Court's judgement of
November 3, 2007 it had restrained all the unconstitutional steps of
then president and the army chief.
     He termed such a directive as conscious effort on part of the
superior judiciary against the unconstitutional steps to derail the
democratic system.
     Salaman Akram Raja, counsel for former air chief, said that
out of total 140 million rupees which were doled out, Rs70 million
were spent whereas Rs70 million were kept in bank accounts.
     He said wrongs of the past would always remained wrong which
this court had already held in its various judgements.
     He said the court had the power to oversee investigation
process especially in financial scams.
     The bench declined a request of Muhammad Akram Shaikh, counsel
for former chief of army staff Mirza Aslam Baig, to make the record
of 12-page cross examination of late interior minister during PPP
tenure Naseerullah Babar public.
     The CJ told him that the bench at that time after due diligence
had ordered to keep it secret and an order was passed in this
regard.
     Akram Shaikh said that a conspiracy was hatched against his
client and noose was tightened against his neck through deliberate
allegations.
     He also questioned the role of Asad Durrani, former head of
ISI, and said that through his letter to late Prime Minister Benazir
Bhutto, he had given his first stance over the issue as Ambassador
of Pakistan to Germany.
     He said everything then followed his stance.
     The CJ said that they had been hearing the case from the last
year and it had become significant after pleadings of the parties
concerned.
     The counsel contended that Naseerullah Babar's stance in the
National Assembly over withdrawal of money by his client from the
Mehran Bank was incorrect as the said bank never existed during
1990s.
     The Chief Justice told him that they were not holding trial of
anyone but examining the constitutional violations and enforcement
of fundamental rights.
     Akram Shaikh argued that his client had been the first person
who had demanded that political cell should be disbanded.
     Earlier, Roedad Khan, a former bureaucrat and blamed running
affairs of a political cell in the presidency during tenure of late
Ghulam Ishaq Khan, submitted a reply before the bench denying his
role.
     He said that a reference to existence of political cell could
be found in Rafi Raza's report who served as special assistant in
the prime minister's house.
     The bench also issued notice to former military intelligence
(MI) chief Brigadier retired Hamid Saeed for Wednesday and adjourned
hearing till tomorrow (October 17).