Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry on Wednesday initiated suo motu proceedings against his son Arsalan Iftikhar following allegations in the media that he was paid up to Rs 400 million by a real estate tycoon to influence cases in the apex court. The chief justice declared that if allegations against his son proved true, he would be strictly dealt with in accordance with law.
---- CJP initiates suo motu proceedings against his son
---- AGP objects to CJP's inclusion in the bench
---- Anyone, including Arsalan, who affected the dignity of court would not be spared: CJP
During the proceedings, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Irfan Qadir objected to the Chief Justice's inclusion in the bench, saying it amounted to conflict of interest. The Chief Justice took note of the Attorney General's objection and pledged that anyone, including his son, who affected the dignity of the apex court would not be spared.
The SC sought details from private TV channel anchorpersons and other media professionals pertaining to contents, script and documents in relation to Arsalan Iftikhar's and Malik Riaz's (Bahria Town) alleged business deals with the objective of influencing the judicial process. The bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja and Justice Khiliji Arif Hussain also summoned Malik Riaz Hussain to appear before the court with evidence to prove his allegations.
Prior to the hearing of the case, Chief Justice's son termed all allegations levelled against him baseless. He told media that his father had asked him not to return home till a verdict on the case. He added that he had no issue with his father heading the bench, arguing that a judge had no relations while hearing a case.
Directing all the parties in the case to submit evidence before the court the CJP categorically said if allegations against his son were proved true he would be punished in accordance with the law. In response to notices issued to Arsalan Iftikhar, Malik Riaz Hussain and AGP in the early hours of Wednesday, everyone except Malik Riaz, appeared before the bench. Riaz's principal staff officer Colonel Khalil (Retd) apprised the bench that Riaz was in the UK for medical treatment.
Khalil failed to produce Bahria Town company's directors' list. However, after an interval of 4 hours, seven senior officials comprising retired senior army officials of Bahria Town appeared before the bench saying no money was disbursed from their project's accounts to anybody.
The bench issued directives to Chairman Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan to appear before the court with Article of Association and Memorandum of Association of Bahria Town Company on June 7. Later, the bench adjourned the hearing of the case till June 7.