The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday observed that secret agencies were operating beyond mandate.

The observation came during the hearing of Asghar Khan Case, known as Merhan Bank scandal, pertaining to disbursement of money by secret agencies among anti-PPP politicians in 1990.
A three judge-bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing the case.
The CJ remarked that interest of state could not be compromised. He said that, though, country’s interest was important, secret agencies were operating beyond their mandate.
During the hearing former ISI chief Lt. Gen Assad Durrani was called on rostrum. “Decision is to be taken by you but you had better hire a lawyer,” Justice Khilji Arif Hussain told Durrani.
Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq told the court that he had reviewed statements of three personalities and found that there was nothing to be kept secret.
He told the apex court that three questions were asked to Durrani and he answered that he was the chief of ISI but not get involved other officials of the secret agency and assign the task of distributing money to outsiders.