ISLAMABAD, Oct 22: The PML-N is mulling over multiple legal options to counter the adverse fallout of the Supreme Court judgment in the Asghar Khan case. However, a final decision will be made after the apex court released the detailed judgment.

Sources in the party told Dawn that options being considered included moving defamation suit against former ISI chief Gen Asad Durrani, who on oath had informed the SC that PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif was one of the politicians belonging to the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad who received money in the 1990 elections.

They said one section of the party’s legal eagles believed a review petition should be moved in the SC against its Oct 22 order in which the Federal Investigation Agency had been authorised to investigate politicians who had received money from the ISI.

But a small minority in the party argued that instead of getting into confrontational mode with the PPP, let the whole controversy fizzle out at its own because the mudslinging match will only go in the favour of People’s Party.

The PML-N leadership at a closed-door meeting in Raiwind on Monday decided how best it could respond to the ‘media trial’ which the party was facing at the hands of PPP after the verdict.

Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has already addressed a press conference in response to PPP’s relentless salvos, assailing the PML-N leaders for receiving money from the ISI.

One of the PML-N’s legal experts said the party had done its homework and petitions were ready to be filed, but final decision to this effect would be made by the party high command.

PML-N’s chief spokesman Senator Mushahidullah Khan said although Nawaz Sharif had nothing to do with the Rs3.5 million which Gen Durrani claimed had been delivered to him “the party just cannot sit and let others spit on us.”

In reply to a question whether the party was considering approaching the Supreme Court for a review of its judgment, Mr Khan said the party had already suggested setting up of an independent commission, instead of probe by the FIA.

“Who doesn’t know the FIA is merely a tool in the hands of Interior Minister Rehman Malik and repeatedly it has been proved on record, be it the NICL case or Haj corruption scandal, that instead of following court orders, the agency has only followed the minister’s directions,” said the PML-N official.

Criticising the PPP and other quarters targeting Nawaz Sharif, Mr Khan said the government should first initiate action against two generals – Gen Beg and Gen Durrani – and Younas Habib who had been proven guilty in the Mehran Bank scandal.

Mr Khan said the court had also directed the government to take action against them. But the entire focus of their attention is on the PML-N chief on the mere mentioning in the court judgment that politicians should be investigated by the FIA.

Explaining the overall party mood after the court ruling, a senior party leader said it had literally put the PML-N in a defensive mode.

“We really don’t know whether to laud or criticise the court judgment because the PPP will be using it to politically beat us black and blue. The PPP will try its level best to squeeze maximum political mileage out of this ruling,” said the PML-N leader.

With the court saying that the 1990 elections were ISI-managed, which resulted in first prime ministership of Nawaz Sharif, the party leaders have been put on back foot, admitted the PML-N leader.

“An overwhelming majority in the party is in a state of shock after the court judgment, because they know the PPP will pin them out in coming elections,” said the PML-N leader.