Interim report submitted: Suddle complains against ministry, police non-cooperation

One-member commission of Dr Shoaib Suddle investigating an alleged Rs 342 million business deal between Chief Justice of Pakistan's son Dr Arsalan Iftikhar and business tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain has complained about the alleged non-co-operation of interior ministry and the Islamabad police.
This commission on Monday submitted an interim report. Seeking further time to probe the case, the commission has apprised the apex court that the inquiry could not be finalised within the stipulated time of 30 days. "Whether and when the Commission will need to visit overseas jurisdictions, to gather evidence, is premature at this stage - It is requested that the time limit for completing the inquiry may be extended for 30 days, at this stage," the report said.
The commission said that on September 10, DG/FIA was directed in writing for temporary attachment of two officials of FIA namely Muhammad Azam Khan, Director Law, FIA HQrs and Imran All Sub-Inspector, FIA HQrs, Islamabad. In response, DG/FIA requested that the directions be conveyed to the Ministry of Interior, being the competent authority.
The interim report also claimed that the secretary ministry of interior was accordingly directed on September 25 to do the needful. The ministry, however, vide its letter dated 26.09.2012 "suggested" that the Commission should Instead requisition the services of officials from other departments as the Supreme Court had in the past expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of FIA. Rejecting this ground, the Commission again, vide notice dated 01.10.2012, directed the Secretary Interior to comply with the orders of the Commission, but no response has been received so far.
It also said that Malik Rlaz was directed, vide notice dated 11.09.2012 to submit a concise statement listing his allegations against Dr Arsalan lftikhar, along with the supporting evidence, by 17.09.2012. "The Islamabad Police, however, failed to serve the notice and the process server (SI Muhammad Yousaf) in his statement before the Commission, submitted that the notice dated 11.09.2012 was given to him for service at about 3 pm on 17. 09.2012".
Taking a serious view of the attitude of Islamabad police, the commission has also issued a letter of displeasure to IGP Islamabad on 18.09.2012 simultaneously. Another notice was sent to Riaz Hussain for submission of his concise statement, along with supporting evidence, by 27.09.2012. The notice was served on Riaz on 19.09.2012.
On 25.09.2012, Riaz through his counsel submitted an application requesting that the Commission may not proceed further in the matter till the decision of the review petition challenging the appointment of the Commission. It was further requested that the impugned notice dated 18.09.2012 may be withdrawn, in the meanwhile. Riaz was issued 2nd notice on 25.09.2012 for submission of a concise statement, along with evidence, by 04.10.2012. The notice was duly served on 26.09.2012.
The interim report also claimed that at the moment, the financial worth of the these persons namely Malik Riaz Hussain, former Chairman Bahria Town (Pvt), Dr Arsalan Iftikhar and Chaudhry Salman Ahmad Khan (son-in-law of Malik Riaz Hussain), Ahmad Khalil, Muhammad Aamir Nawaz Rana and Zahid Rehman has been found relevant to the inquiry at hand.
"On 27.09.2012, the Chairman FBR was directed to provide tax returns, wealth statements and other relevant documents of these individuals, for the period 2009-2012, within three days. In response, FBR requested, vide letter dated 03.10.2012, for extension of time till 10.10.2012, which was allowed".
On 02.10.2012, the Governor State Bank of Pakistan was urged to direct all the banks under his control to provide certified copies of account opening forms along with statements of accounts for the last three financial years within 10 days. Meanwhile, a two-member bench of the apex court, consisting of Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif decided to hear Riaz's review petition today (Tuesday) against the court's August 30 judgment about the formation of one-man commission. The court has also issued notice to Dr Arsalan and his counsel.