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Pakistan Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Friday pledged a transparent and impartial probe into the rigging of the 1990 general election by some politicians and military officers, in line with a Supreme Court order and to punish the guilty according to the law.
Speaking hours after the Supreme Court directed authorities to take legal action against former army chief Gen Mirza Aslam Beg and former Inter-Services Intelligence chief Lt Gen Asad Durrani and politicians involved in the rigging, Ashraf said the court's verdict had vindicated the ruling Pakistan People's Party stance.
"The detailed judgement is yet to reach us but on the basis of the Supreme Court's the short order and its spirit, we will take action according to the Constitution and law in a clean, transparent and impartial manner," Ashraf told a news conference at the Prime Minister's House on Friday evening.
All those found guilty of rigging the 1990 polls "should be punished", he said.
The Federal Investigation Agency will conduct an investigation and take action according to the law and Constitution. Everything uncovered by the probe will be made public, he said.
"As the chief executive, I want to assure the people that there will be a clean and transparent investigation. Anyone involved will not escape punishment and all the money will be recovered," Ashraf said in response to questions from reporters.
Asked if the government would take action against the retired generals or hand over the matter to the military so that action could be taken under the Army Act, Ashraf said: "Action will be taken under the Constitution, law and the rules. We will study the matter, seek legal opinion and then take action".