Malik Riaz did not give any interview to journalists: Zahid Bukhari

Counsel of Malik Riaz in Arsalan Iftikhar case to file application for constitution of larger bench.

LAHORE: Zahid Bukhari, the counsel for real estate tycoon Malik Riaz, said on Friday that his client had not given an interview to journalists regarding the bribes scam currently being heard by the Supreme Court, and involving the Chief Justice of Pakistan's son Dr Arsalan Iftikhar.

He was speaking to the media in the premises of the Lahore High Court on Friday. Bukhari has claimed to be Riaz’s counsel and had appeared before the Supreme Court on Thursday on his behalf.

He revealed that an application for the constitution of a larger bench on the issue will be filed on Saturday, and added that the chief justice will be requested to not sit on benches hearing cases pertaining to Bahria Town.

Referring to Riaz’s interviews published in Daily Jang and The News on Friday, Bukhari alleged that the interviews were fabricated. In the interviews, Riaz had said that he was not against the Chief Justice, and that there were no powers, civilian or military behind the case.

The lawyer further said that his client will not give any interview to the media about the case and will only reveal facts before the Supreme Court. Riaz, he said, will return to the country to appear before the court as soon as his doctors allow him to travel.

When asked, Bukhari chose not to disclose the amount of case fee he had received from Riaz, but said it was the best in his whole career.