LAHORE:
Following the Supreme Court ruling to investigate the alleged payments made by property tycoon Malik Riaz to the chief justice of Pakistan’s son, Dr Arsalan Iftikhar, the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP)’s office has constituted a three-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) which will probe the entire saga, sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune.
According to sources, the JIT consists of the Inspector General of Islamabad Police, as well as directors from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The members and mandate of the JIT has been suggested and finalised by the PPP-led coalition government – and the details were sent to the AGP’s office on Monday night for a notification to be issued.
Sources told The Express Tribune that AGP Irfan Qadir would, in coming days, issue the notification – which could come as early as Tuesday (today). The AGP will monitor the JIT and later submit the findings to the court.
Former chairman Bahria Town Malik Riaz had accused Dr Arsalan of financial impropriety, claiming that he had taken bribes from him and promised to have his cases pending in court settled amicably.
The Supreme Court on June 14 had directed the AGP to proceed according to the law and take required action against business tycoon Malik Riaz, his son-in-law Salman and the chief justice’s son Dr Arsalan Iftikhar.
JIT’s mandate
According to sources, the JIT has been mandated to investigate the following: the wife of the chief justice, his son Dr Arsalan Iftikhar, his “pir” (mentor) Hakeem Abdul Wahab, Malik Riaz and his son-in-law Salman Ali Khan. Besides these two families, JIT would investigate businessman Ahmad Khalil, alleged to be the go-between, and renowned lawyer Hamid Khan.
According to sources, Hakim Wahab is suspected to be a partner of Dr Arsalan.
According to sources, Riaz had claimed that the bribes were given primarily for two cases – both of which would be investigated in close detail. The JIT, said sources, would investigate Riaz’s allegation that he was asked to hire Hamid Khan for these two cases.
One case pertained to the car race accident, which took place in December 2010, as a result of which five persons were killed. Riaz’s son, Ali Riaz, faced murder charges. The second case is said to be the one pertaining to the murder of a Bahria Town guard Fayyaz Ahmad.
AGP Irfan Qadir, while talking with The Express Tribune, confirmed the formation of the JIT. He promised that everything in this matter would be unveiled.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2012.
COMMENTS (29)
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Dear all, Malik Riaz should be given fair and free trail and it has to be proved.The present regime of the judiciary has a tough time for proving its worth since it looks after Malik Riaz only.
The people of Pakistan want to know that according to which law Bahria Town Cases will be headed and listened by the Chief Justice with reference to the open allegations on Dr, Arsalan and his business of millions. We must take care of the rule of law , we acclaim daily and loudly. The assets of Dr. Arsalan will speak the true story that how he managed that all money and from where before we dig out the assets of Riaz Malik. I am very much confirmed that if the cases of Riaz Malik are headed and proceeded under the chair of the chief justice it will be a revival of that black law of Molvi Mushtaq and his verdict that had been posed on Z.A.Bhutto, the very judicial murder. We must refrain of it and give the Bahria Town a free and fair trail despite all grievances and prove the rule of law for each.
We all know who controls FIA and NAB.
Sir he is the biggest land grabber of all times and to feed a few is his modes oprandi.just feel for those thousands of people who r suffering at this man,s hands in DHA schemes and were crying for help for the last three years but no one came to there help @AM:
If your son drove in a Limousine you would ask how come? How about if your son lives large in European havens for weeks and on shopping spree for four long years and takes other members of the family including your wife? When low level Govt officials make this kind of progress and become billionaire it is time to redefine corruption. The CJ was talking about not the wealth of his son that has been tricking down to his family, but he was talking about not even owning a home! Arsalan has made this kind of money while drawing salary and benefits from the gGovt job. He should be fired from the police job immediately as he was not giving time compared to his business. He has made all this money in four years; let us tax all that income. This culture of corruption should not be accepted by the society. By taking the suo motu and diluting the charges, the CJ has saved his family from future prosecution on most serious charges. The TV interview like most was a setup and can be condemned, but the revelations and charges cannot be and should be fully investigated.
@AM: in Pakistan many thief's are spending money on charity in order to get paradise and clear their sins what they do in their day to day life. i have seen the more corrupt person the more he is having Quran Khawni & Sadka in his home by his family. This hypocrisy is the reason of degeneration of ethical values in our society and these peoples think that they can get the Allah blessing by giving charity earned by wrong ways. Allah is Great and he knows whats in the heart and he knows who are on true path.
@AM: we appriciate him for that but that doesnt make hom superior to law -
the fact is that he "exposed" all common Pakistanis's nature. we all do some kind of corruption everyday, yes everyday! by offering money to Police to avoid challan, offering peon to get the file, offering to custom to release the consignment, offering income tax person to avoid tax, we all do coruption everyday. we all need to AVOID that (corruption). Its not the story of Malik Riaz only, its a saga of whole nation. Please stop criticising, recite "astaghfaar" and request Allah for the best path. May Allah help all of us to find and choose the right path, ameen.
@AM:
What ever he is doing he is doing Wrong. How come some one praise a person who unlawfully grab the land of widows and orphan. He is by far the worst person on this planet.
we have become materialistic and the love for money just keeps growing. A business tycoon can buy any thing 'people' included. Malik Riaz famous for his philanthropist services has now become a criminal name. i do not know whom to trust in a situation like this even media personnel have been bought by Malik Riaz.
He made money through corruption and corrupting. Live by the sword die by the sword.
The sole purpose of JIT would be to involve Hon'ble Chief Justice of Pakistan and it will try hard to malign him, but don't worry the civil society would not allow them to do so. Irfan Qadir felt aggrieved that he was removed from NAB and Judgship of High Court by the Supreme Court, his behaviour is revengeful and biast, he shall try to behave, or atleast cautious of honour of office he is holding. He is making fun of judgment of Supreme Court. Pity on the Nation, who is having Attorney General like him.
This is a joke right??? POLICE the most corrupt organ of the state will investigate this? hahaha .... Pakistan ka Allah hee hafiz.
Any investigation without thorough interrogation of Iftikhar will be meaningless.
AGP Irfan Qadir seems a man courage & rule of law. Let the JIT to probe the entire family-gate scandal, Otherwise in few years time Arsalan will become bigger tycoon than Malik Raiz.
@Logic Europe: It was one categorical 'NO' from Chief Justice Iftikhar Choudhry that shook the foundation of Musharraf regime. The present PPP govt is a bounty of that 'NO'. Imagine what Dogar Courts would have done to Pakistan. Example is that of striking down Graduation condition for MPs and the result is we have the most corrupt person in the history of Pakistan as our president.
Please kindly inform us the name of the wife of the CJP under investigation.
I think he was too confident about his approach but he was caught red handed.Its Better he now speaks the truth and should uncover the faces involved in all this drama.
*World is going through recession. Growth rate of Pakistan has fallen to 2.5%. Big companies are either merging or laying off their skilled and qualified people not for pleasure but to cut expenses and balance out the budgets. In such dark period there is only one shining star whose business does wonders in four years and the owner becomes almost a billionaire. The shining star is Dr Arsalan Chaudry. JIT must unveil Arsalan financial formula and recommend to the Economic Division of Pakistan on how to make money in recession. I would also request that the great entrepreneur be encouraged to write a book on his great achievement.
@AM: Dear AM, from where he got so much money?
The PCO judges must resign and go they should follow Musharaf who left honourably
Ban Geo or judge and i guarantee you a prosperous country.
AM: Pity the country where Malik Riaz, Gillani and Zardari are considered as heroes.
Let justice be done.Let Pakistan progress. In my opinion at present time damaging the CJ and SC would not be good for the country and people of the country.People hold CJ and SC in very high esteem
This man has openly admitted bribing politicians, bureacrats, military and journalists. He is responsible for making people corrupt. He should be punished for that.
Out of thousands of millionaires, one person dares to spend money on poor weather there is earthquake, flood, ransom money, shelter, free food, roads , hospitals, then he make a mistake and everybody is against him. He dont deserve to be born into this country, where people only follow the rising sun. We like to praise dead Heroes only
Is not this guard already pardoned by the "President" in breach of judicial process?