Shoaib Suddle to probe Arsalan Iftikhar case

Court rules it was not satisf­ied with NAB's inquir­y; only commis­sion will contin­ue to probe into the scandal.

ISLAMABAD: Taking away investigative authority from National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the financial impropriety case against Dr Arsalan Iftikhar, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed former police official Shoaib Suddle to probe into the scandal as a one-man commission, Express News reported.

Once directives are released, the commission will have to complete the investigation within a period of 30 days.

According to the Supreme Court’s ruling, Suddle will be given the power of a judge and will also be able to take assistance from lawyers.

The court said it was satisfied with the report Suddle had compiled in the Nato containers’ case and termed his findings as “commendable”.

The commission will launch an inquest against business tycoon Malik Riaz, Dr Arsalan and Riaz’s son-in-law Salman Ahmed.

Accepting Dr Arsalan's review petition, the court ruled that it was not satisfied with NAB's inquiry and that only the commission will continue to probe into the scandal.

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday had reserved its judgment on Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry’s son Dr Arsalan's review petition challenging its June 14 order relating to allegations of a business deal between him and real estate tycoon Malik Riaz.

The ruling had empowered the attorney general to act in accordance with the law and bring all culprits to the book.

Following Arsalan’s objections on the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) members, NAB Chairman Bukhari had dissolved the team and decided to probe the matter himself.

However, Arsalan took the matter back to the court, arguing that AG Qadir did not act in accordance with the court’s verdict and referred the matter to NAB with mala fide intention, since he was biased against CJ Chaudhry. His second grievance was over NAB Chairman Bukhari’s daughter being an employee of Malik Riaz, who enjoyed a close relationship with Bukhari.

Following media reports that Dr Iftikhar had received between Rs300 and Rs400 million from Riaz to influence judicial proceedings, the chief justice had taken suo motu notice and had summoned him and Bahria Town’s chief.

Attorney general summoned

The Supreme Court summoned Attorney General Irfan Qadir for his rude conduct with the judges during the hearing of the Arsalan Iftikhar case.

The “allegations against the attorney general are not frivolous or without substance but are supported by judicial record,” held the apex court in its judgement released on Thursday.

“The office shall, therefore, create a file and issue notice to the attorney general,” read the court judgement. The court also turned down the submission of Zahid Bukhari, counsel for Malik Riaz Hussain, in favour of attorney general and observed that it is based on a misconception of established legal norms.

The court’s judgement also held that it is disturbing to see that the attorney general, transgressing his limits, chose to write an objectionable letter to the NAB chairman and adopted a surprising and unusual conduct with the court during the hearing of the case.

‘I am a citizen of Pakistan, regardless of being someone’s son’

Speaking on the premises of the Supreme Court, Dr Arsalan said, “I am a citizen of Pakistan, regardless of having a relationship with anyone or being someone’s son. I also have the right to Article 10 (A) of the Constitution.”

He said that the annexures in his review petition “spoke volumes of the bias and prejudice” he felt in the probe done by NAB.

“Since day one, the only contention we have had is that we want free, fair and transparent investigation. We came to the court to seek  judiciary’s assistance as we have always submitted to the majesty of the court.”

He added, “In my review petition, I had pleaded that the inquiry should be transferred to a judicial forum, be it a retired judge or anyone else.”