Suo motu: Chief justice detaches himself from son's case
Irfan Qadir objected to the chief justice's inclusion in the bench once again as the hearing began.
ISLAMABAD:
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has decided to distance himself from the case pertaining to the financial impropriety scandal against his son Dr Arslan Iftikhar, Express News reported on Thrusday.
As the financial impropriety scandal hearing began in the Supreme Court, Attorney General (AG) Irfan Qadir, once again objected to Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry’s inclusion in the three-member bench to hear his own son’s case.
The chief justice, however, chose not to put much emphasis on the attorney general’s comments and proceeded with the hearing but later decided to quit the bench.
“The Quran says you are responsible for your own actions, not your children’s,” the chief justice said.
“We have faith and we believe in Allah,” added Justice Chaudhry.
A two-member bench resumed the hearing after the break. The court, in its short order, asked for details regarding all agreements on joint projects between the government and Malik Riaz and ordered for his taxation documentation from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
The court further summoned both Malik Riaz, who, according to his lawyer was unwell and his son.
AG Qadir objected to the two-member bench, saying that it was too small. In the short order, the court directed him to refer the matter to the chief justice.
Earlier, Qadir had objected to the bench, saying it was “against the code of conduct” for the chief justice to hear the case.
A senior anchorperson of a private TV channel, while recording their statement, claimed that Malik Riaz showed them documents according to which Riaz’s son-in-law financed all purchases and payments for Arsalan Iftikhar while he was in London.
No evidence to prove the same was presented.
The court had earlier issued notices to the chief executive of Geo TV and anchors Kamran Khan, Najam Sethi and Shaheen Sehbai to appear before the court with evidence, since they hosted programmes on the issue.
"I feel a suo motu notice should not have been taken," Zahid Bukhari, Riaz's lawyer, told the media.
The Supreme Court ordered Riaz and Arsalan to submit written statements and adjourned the hearing till June 11.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has decided to distance himself from the case pertaining to the financial impropriety scandal against his son Dr Arslan Iftikhar, Express News reported on Thrusday.
As the financial impropriety scandal hearing began in the Supreme Court, Attorney General (AG) Irfan Qadir, once again objected to Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry’s inclusion in the three-member bench to hear his own son’s case.
The chief justice, however, chose not to put much emphasis on the attorney general’s comments and proceeded with the hearing but later decided to quit the bench.
“The Quran says you are responsible for your own actions, not your children’s,” the chief justice said.
“We have faith and we believe in Allah,” added Justice Chaudhry.
A two-member bench resumed the hearing after the break. The court, in its short order, asked for details regarding all agreements on joint projects between the government and Malik Riaz and ordered for his taxation documentation from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
The court further summoned both Malik Riaz, who, according to his lawyer was unwell and his son.
AG Qadir objected to the two-member bench, saying that it was too small. In the short order, the court directed him to refer the matter to the chief justice.
Earlier, Qadir had objected to the bench, saying it was “against the code of conduct” for the chief justice to hear the case.
A senior anchorperson of a private TV channel, while recording their statement, claimed that Malik Riaz showed them documents according to which Riaz’s son-in-law financed all purchases and payments for Arsalan Iftikhar while he was in London.
No evidence to prove the same was presented.
The court had earlier issued notices to the chief executive of Geo TV and anchors Kamran Khan, Najam Sethi and Shaheen Sehbai to appear before the court with evidence, since they hosted programmes on the issue.
"I feel a suo motu notice should not have been taken," Zahid Bukhari, Riaz's lawyer, told the media.
The Supreme Court ordered Riaz and Arsalan to submit written statements and adjourned the hearing till June 11.