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Arsalan Iftikhar case: NAB summons for SC registrar questioned

Published: July 26, 2012

Court says it will look into NAB request as it concerns the SC. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: 

A two-judge apex court bench expressed its surprise on Wednesday over the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) move to summon Registrar of the Supreme Court Dr Faqir Hussain in connection with a graft case involving Dr Arsalan Iftikhar, Malik Riaz and Riaz’s son-in-law Salman Khan.

The bench, comprising Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, questioned why the registrar had been summoned by NAB when the case had nothing to do with him.

Sardar Ishaq, counsel for Arsalan Iftikhar, reiterated earlier claims that the case was part of the propaganda campaign to malign the apex court. On the other hand, Zahid Bokhari, the counsel for Malik Riaz, told the court that it should not be considered a controversy between Malik Riaz and the Supreme Court, but strictly a matter between Riaz and Arsalan.

The court observed that it would look into the matter as the registrar’s summoning concerned the court, while asking Arsalan’s lawyer to confine himself to his case.

Arsalan Iftikhar, son of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, filed a petition in the Supreme Court on June 13 to review the court’s decision in the suo motu notice pertaining to allegations against him. Ishaq read out the petition which showed Arsalan’s mistrust in Attorney General Irfan Qadir and the NAB’s investigation team. He said that the attorney general had misinterpreted the court’s verdict and the team formed by NAB was illegal.

Ishaq asked the court to appoint a retired judge of the superior courts or a retired bureaucrat to head the inquiry in the case, adding that NAB, FIA and Islamabad police were all under the influence of Malik Riaz or Rehman Malik.

Arsalan’s counsel went on to add that Riaz’s son-in-law Salman Khan is due to appear before NAB’s Joint Investigation Team probing the Arsalan Iftikhar-Malik Riaz case.

On the request of Zahid Bokhari, the court adjourned the case till Thursday (today).

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26th, 2012. 

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Reader Comments (13)

  • Mirza
    Jul 26, 2012 - 10:08AM

    “The bench, comprising Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, questioned why the registrar had been summoned by NAB when the case had nothing to do with him.”
    So the SC bench has already dismissed any and all potential allegations against registrar even before they were investigated! The SC registrar who was Dr. Faqeer now becomes Dr. Ameer. On one hand prince Arsalan has no faith in NAB, FIA and Islamabad police and wants only to be investigated by the “uncles”. However, all the other parties must be investigated by the same judges of SC who have been openly hostile against them and would never recue themselves! This is called PCO justice Don Style.

    Recommend

  • sillysilva
    Jul 26, 2012 - 10:55AM

    @Mirza: Yes and remember the same Registrar was refused to appear before Parliament’s Committee (PAC) recently. And the CJ yesterday said President and PM have to appear before a Magistrate ………………………….????

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  • A J Khan
    Jul 26, 2012 - 10:59AM

    The Registrar of Supreme Court in connivance with the court is setting precedence that all the employees of the courts have a far greater immunity than the Prime Minister of Pakistan who can be summoned and dismissed . Where is the Constitution of Pakistan and where is the rule of Law.

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  • Lala Gee
    Jul 26, 2012 - 11:04AM

    @Mirza:

    In the beginning, when I didn’t know much about you, I used to be irritated by your out of context and proportions nonsensical repetition of “PCO judges, PCO CJP, PCO bla bla……” and tried a couple of times clear your misconceptions, but now I somehow enjoy it. Please keep doing your best what are you are supposed to do.

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  • Sane Voice
    Jul 26, 2012 - 11:04AM

    I dont know why our judges have become so much hyperactive and hypersensitive. On one hand they claim to implement rule of law and protection of governance and system, but on other hand they break the very system of governance.

    The registerar has been given extensions…….while the CJ himself asked Govt not to give any extensions to officials. The registrar was asked not appear before PAC……why? And now they are making interventions in the investigation of Arsalan Iftikhar. Is the registrar a Mr. Faqeer Husain, some sacred personality or an angel. Is this the way of giving a chance fo fair investigation and trial.

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  • Logic europe hull
    Jul 26, 2012 - 11:05AM

    @Mirza please dont disress yourself This is not a court ,,, it is the actual government
    Instead of being humble this court is arrogant intransigent and intrusive It has los credibility

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  • Tariq
    Jul 26, 2012 - 1:07PM

    It was wrong on the part of NAB to summon the registrar as he has truly nothing to do with Arsalan, him being neither related by blood nor by business to the accused. But what about father, the CJ, who being next of kin, can also be a direct or indirect beneficiary, logically speaking? Justice demands that Chief Justice voluntarily appear before the investigating agency to testify for or against his son or, if he doesn’t, be summoned by NAB.Recommend

  • Lala Gee
    Jul 26, 2012 - 1:33PM

    @A J Khan:

    “The Registrar of Supreme Court in connivance with the court is setting precedence that all the employees of the courts have a far greater immunity……….”

    The Registrar of Supreme Court is factually a Supreme Court judge by equivalency and post and nowhere in this world including USA, UK, and India a judge of Supreme Court has been and can be summoned by any branch of executive including police or PAC. If there is any information required from a judge of any court, let alone a judge of Supreme Court, the investigation officer has to go to him for the purpose. This is the practice all over the civilized world and of the governments respecting the authority and dignity of the judges, but of course, PPP leadership and their sycophants think themselves as special and an exception to the rule.

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  • Logic Europe
    Jul 26, 2012 - 4:41PM

    Lala gee@ civilised world doesnt have uncivilised judges Look at their outbursts in the court as if they are the defacto rulere HUM THIS HUM THAT ,, the mantra they keepmrepeating
    IF registrar was happy to issue suo moto and meddle with afairs of the court then he has no credibility He has grabbed two plots of land and since has become an ordinary manipulater
    If his honour doesn’t like to go to NAB then he can be interviewed In supreme court.
    THE PROBLEM IS OF DOUBLE STANDERSPDS PEOPLE WHO HAVE RECIEVED PLOTS ARE CLAIMING IMMUNITY this is what ppp says ,courts have double standards ,,,l.

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  • Mohd Butt
    Jul 26, 2012 - 6:52PM

    Can we hair coach who can teach us how to balance the life, and teach us to implement on self along with others the same law we pose we are committed to. I will pay his expens. Love you all.

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  • Khalq e Khuda
    Jul 26, 2012 - 8:56PM

    @Lala Gee:

    First they ignore you,
    then they laugh at you,
    then they fight you,
    then you win.

    Glad to see you are now officially at the second stage and have started laughing at the comments of us Jayalas.

    Meanwhile care to explain this latest build up by the independent judiciary? Why does the thought of SC registrar appearing before the court frightening these PCO judges to death?

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  • Mirza
    Jul 26, 2012 - 9:58PM

    @Lala Gee:
    Glad to be able to amuse you and make you happy. I promise that as long as even 50% of my posts are published I would continue to provide you with my humble services.
    Cheers,

    Mirza

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  • Lala Gee
    Jul 26, 2012 - 10:06PM

    @Khalq e Khuda:

    “First they ignore you,
    then they laugh at you,
    then they fight you,
    then you win.
    Glad to see you are now officially at the second stage and have started laughing at the comments of us Jayalas.”

    Congratulations in advance for your winning as your “Jayala” government has solved all the problems of the hapless people of Pakistan. Now the electricity is available uninterrupted, inflation has come down to zero, Rupee has gained double the value, while no new debt was taken rather all the previous debts have been repaid. Congratulations once again on your monumental success.

    Meanwhile care to explain this latest build up by the independent judiciary? Why does the thought of SC registrar appearing before the court frightening these PCO judges to death?

    I don’t work for the judges or the registrar, so I am not in a position to verify or deny if they are frightened to death, however one thing is very clear from your comments, and that is Jayalas are Jayalas and you cannot reason with them So it will be useless to mention that JIT is not a “court” rather registrar is part of supreme court and is a supreme court judge in equivalency heading the office of the registrar.

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