Agencies bribed politicians in Feb 18 election too: Asghar
ISLAMABAD: Secret agencies bribing politicians dated back to 1975 and the last general election was not free from it, said Air Marshal (r) Asghar Khan on Saturday.
He was talking to reporters in a ceremony for the launch of two books titled ‘Passage to Nowhere’ and ‘Leave the Army Alone’ authored by Ikram Sehgal, at Islamabad Club on Saturday.
He said in the history of Pakistan, not a single election had ever been held in which secret agencies didn’t bribe politicians. “I have written a number of letters to Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to take suo moto action against these agencies but I am not very optimist about the outcome of my efforts,” Asghar Khan said.
Sehgal has authored seven books including ‘The Wages of Truth’, ‘Power Play’, ‘Passage to Nowhere’, ‘Leave the Army Alone’ and ‘Everything Under The Moon’.
Sehgal is a graduate from the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) and has served as a major in the Pakistan Army. He is a prominent writer, a columnist, and a defence analyst.
The book launch was attended by former foreign minister Abida Hussain, Senator Mushahid Hussain, Tehmina Daultana, Gen (r) Ali Quli Khan, Brig (r) Taj, Imran Khan and a number of politicians.
Mushahid Hussain wished the author well and shed light on his life and works. He said, “Over twenty years, we both remained columnists for ‘The Nation’ and both have love for Bangladesh. Sehgal has seen difficult times in the past.”
He said, in Pakistan, a robust civil society was very much informed and vibrant. “A new mechanism is taking shape and I hope intelligence agencies will be accountable to the parliament through this mechanism,” he said.
Hussain suggested that there should be a joint committee of the parliament for monitoring activities of secret agencies. He said Sehgal had never sought any favour from any ruler.
Others said the author had discussed critical issues like crashing of Gen Ziaul Haq’s plane in 1988, sacking of former prime minister Muhammad Khan Junejo, and the coming to power of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and her downfall.
Source: Daily Times
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