Pakistan Judge recuses himself from ex-ISI chief's case; 'Reasons I don't want to share'

Pakistani judge Mohsin Akhtar Kayani on Friday rescued himself from further hearing a petition filed by former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director-General Asad Durrani seeking removal of his name from a no-fly list, according to Pakistani media reports.

According to a report in Dawn, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) justice did not provide a reason for his decision, saying he had taken it due to "reasons I don't want to share". Durrani's name was placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) for co-authoring a book, 'The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace', with former chief of the Indian spy agency Amarjit Singh Dulat after Pakistan's Military Intelligence (MI) wrote to the Interior Ministry in this regard in 2018.

'This is unfortunate but there are some reasons'

On May 28, 2018, the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) informed the general public through its Twitter account: "Lt Gen Asad Durrani, Retired was called at GHQ today to explain his position on the recently launched book 'Spy Chronicles'. A formal Court of Inquiry headed by a serving Lt Gen has been ordered to probe the matter in detail. Competent authority approached to place his name on ECL."

When the petition was again taken up for hearing on Friday, Justice Kayani announced his recusal from the case, which he had been hearing as part of the single-member bench. "[I] know the entire background of the case [and] was in the process of writing the judgement as well," the judge told the court. "This is unfortunate but there are some reasons which I don't want to share [publically]."

Justice Kayani said he was sending the case back to the IHC chief justice so he could take a decision about forming a new bench to hear the matter.

READ | Rahul Gandhi accuses PM Modi of 'bowing down to China'; BJP fires back 'ask Nehru'

READ | Defence Ministry smashes Cong's 'India at disadvantage' lie over LAC, rakes up 1962

Last month, Pakistan's Defence Ministry has opposed efforts by former ISI Chief's Lt Gen (retired) Asad Durrani's efforts to get his name removed from a no-fly list. It has claimed that Durrani had been interacting with India's external intelligence agency — RAW [Research and Analysis Wing] — since 2008. The book contained certain contents concerning the National Security of Pakistan and it was a violation of the Official Secret Act, claimed the ministry.

It said that "there are a number of publications on way, supported by hostile elements which contain content to create misperception, confusion, question marks against the top leadership circles of country level and to target the common people" adding that the situation necessitates that the petitioner's name should be contained in the ECL.

"It is further added that the petitioner [Gen Durrani] is affiliated/interacting with hostile elements especially Indian RAW since 2008," the report claimed. The report stated that Durrani with the military authorities in the General Headquarters in 2018 "rendered an affidavit committing to refrain from such activities, which is still not seen in tangible terms.

READ | EXCL: Ex-MP Dinesh Trivedi says 'joining BJP would be a privilege'; exposes TMC corruption

READ | 'Justin Trudeau commends India's efforts to hold dialogue with protesting farmers': MEA

(With ANI inputs)