Arsalan entrapment: ISI begins probe into alleged video

[Atif Supermacy]

ISLAMABAD: The ISI has initiated an inquiry into 'Trapgate' to ascertain if any of its officials had any involvement in the entrapment of Dr Arsalan Itikhar, the son of chief justice of Pakistan.

A senior ISI official, however, categorically told The News that there had been no institutional sanction for any such activity if any of its officials was found in this illegal practice.

The ISI official had approached this correspondent to inquire into this newspaper’s report about the alleged video made by an ISI official to the benefit of Malik Riaz and to the disadvantage of Dr Arsalan Iftikhar.

The official assured that there had been no authorisation of the ISI as an institution to any of its officials to get into such an illegal activity. “We don’t get involved into such activities,” the senior official said, adding thatan inquiry has already been initiated to find out if any video asclaimed or reported by the media exists. The ISI official maintained that as yet there was no information with the ISI about the involvement of any of its officials in the Trapgate. He added that the Bahria Town linchpin Malik Riaz Hussain in his initial response, when contacted by an ISI official, completely denied that he had ever named the ISI or any of its officials with regard to the alleged video. Already, the ISPR and former DG ISI had categorically denied this and insisted that no such activity took place but the Bahria Town’s top management in their background recent interaction had shared this information with some journalists. Dr Arsalan Iftikhar did confirm to this correspondent that an ISI official was engaged by him to get what he insisted was a legal cash payment.

Arsalan Iftikhar, when contacted, said that he had engaged an acquaintance from ISI — a major/lt colonel — to get payment in relation to a contract between Fecto Cement and Radiant Power Energy. He said that he received cash on account of the same contract and there was no illegality involved in this.

Last week, the ISPR denied that the ISI had any role in this scandal whereas former DG ISI Lt Gen (retd) Shuja Pasha when contacted had categorically told this correspondent that neither he allowed any such assignment nor anyone in the ISI could do this without the DG’s permission.

Source : http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-New...-alleged-video