'Suddle Commission' dissolved

The Supreme Court on Friday dissolved the one-man 'Suddle Commission' after it presented its report over the alleged business deal of Rs 342 million between business tycoon Malik Riaz and son of Chief Justice of Pakistan, Dr Arsalan Iftikhar. A two-judge bench of Supreme Court led by Justice Jawad S Khawaja heard the case in relation to the highly controversial alleged business deal between Malik Riaz and Arsalan Iftikhar.
The bench observed it was an issue between two individuals, who could take up the matter at any forum. On August 30, 2012, the Supreme Court formed a one-man Judicial Commission headed by incumbent Federal Tax Ombudsman Dr Shoiab Suddle to investigate an alleged business deal. The commission was asked to submit its findings within 30 days.
In its preliminary report, the Commission has implicated Dr Arsalan Iftikhar and Malik Riaz in massive tax evasion of Rs 51.3 million and 119.4 billion, respectively. It recommended imposition of a penalty on concealment of assets in the wealth statements filed by both the accused with income tax returns.
The commission in its report revealed that Malik Riaz, his son-in-law Salman Khan, Ahmed Khalil and other key witnesses did not cooperate with it during the entire investigation process. The commission declared that Arsalan Iftikhar could have been brought to book had Malik Riaz co-operated in establishing even the fraction of probable cause of receiving money as alleged.
After the bench dissolved the Suddle Commission with directives to make the report public, Dr Arsalan Iftikhar told reporters in the apex court premises that he had already said that the allegations levelled against him by Malik Riaz were baseless. "Even in six months, no evidence was produced to prove the allegations, levelled against me," Arsalan insisted. He further stated that he had submitted a 200-page statement before the commission regarding allegations levelled by Malik Riaz, besides presenting himself for accountability. Arsalan asserted that being a responsible citizen he had not evaded any tax. He added that Riaz had not sponsored his foreign tours but he travelled at his own expenses.
To a question, Dr Arsalan said he would file a suit for damages against Malik Riaz. However, Zahid Bukhari, the counsel for Riaz, told the media that the allegations of his client against Dr Arsalan Iftikhar were duly accurate. He said that his client had been raising objections over the legitimacy of the commission from day-one.