No officer should follow illegal orders: Asghar Khan

ISLAMABAD: Air marshal (Retd) Asghar Khan Friday said that under no circumstances should any military or civilian officer follow the orders that were illegal, Geo News reported.
The petitioner of one of the most important cases in the history of Pakistan said this while talking to media outside Supreme Court here.
On Friday, the Supreme Court of Pakistan in its short verdict on Asghar Khan case ordered action against all those who were involved in rigging the 1990 election. SC in its order convicted former chiefs of army and Inter-services Intelligence (ISI) of illegally funding politicians to manipulate the polls.
He said he was a living example of what the preached as he as a young flying officer in Royal Air Force had refused to follow the orders to attack Pir of Pagara’s convoy back in 1942 during the British colonial rule.
“I was just one year into my service. I was just 21. British authorities ordered me to attack the then Pir of Pagara’s caravan passing through Hyderabad as Pir sahib had declared a revolt against the colonial oppression. I understood the orders handed down to me were not right”, said the retired air marshal.
He said he had to put up with a strict disciplinary action later, which he faced valiantly, but he never regretted his disobedience, as it was the right thing to do.