Business tycoon Malik Riaz recorded his statement before the investigative committee of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday in the Arsalan Iftikhar case, reported Express News.
Presenting his written statement, Riaz sought some time from the committee to provide further evidence in the case. NAB also handed him a written questionnaire which he has to reply to by July 24.
Speaking to the media after the proceedings, Riaz said that vengeful acts against him should be stopped and if anyone has reservations on the investigation committee, then they should get it changed.
Riaz had earlier requested the NAB to grant him time till Monday, because of his appearance in the Sindh High Court. However, in a statement issued on Friday, NAB stated that this request has been declined and that Riaz will have to appear before NAB.
NAB had stated that if Riaz fails to appear, unilateral proceedings could be be carried out against him.
Earlier, the attorney general had written a letter to the NAB chairman asking him to conduct an investigation into the Arsalan Iftikhar case after the court had ordered him to take action in accordance with the law.
Arsalan, son of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and a key respondent in the case, had opposed the attorney general's decision and said that he did not have any right to forward the case.
NAB has summoned Arsalan Iftikhar, Salman Ahmed and Ahmed Khalil to appear before it on July 30.
The accountability institution hoped that the joint investigation team would soon return from Britain, and visit the UAE.
Correction: The name 'Khalil' was earlier misspelled as 'Jalil' in the story. The correction has been made.
COMMENTS (16)
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The son of the CJ is corrupt to the core: from charges of blackmailing, extortion, bribery, scandalization of the judiciary, to living beyond means, gambling, women, alcohol. Despite all this, he is walking free in this country. The reason is that his dad is so powerful, that no one can dare touch him.
All we can suggest to him is to enjoy his illegally acquired wealth.
@Zafar Sultan: I'm not sure if the Honorable judges are so honorable!
@Mirza: @Zafar Sultan:
The "Zafar Sultans" of this world represent the mindset of the mouthpiece of Judicio-Military Establishment. As always, they try to silence their critics through coercive tactics. But they must realize that in free world, there is very little room for such intolerance. It is time for them to give up this mindset.
There are better things that can be done with Malik Riaz or people as talented as him. I'd let the man do what he does best ----- go out and make money, more money and create jobs and help develop land and housing schemes and perhaps invest in other ventures, as well. He is one of those rare birds here who invest in Pakistan as oppose to most of the real real "patriots" who shift their ill-gotten wealth and our resources out to some place in Europe or ME. Please, stop demonising this man for telling the truth. It is waste of our time and our resources to be spent on someone who has been and can still be very useful for the country and for its shrinking job market and diminishing investors' confidence. Simply because he made a bad business judgement and paid bribe to a low life connected with powerful folks who would sacrifice all national interest to cover up the useless son a whatever with his soft head.
@ Zafar sultan the judges and judiciary have always colluded against people just visit any court in Pakistan and see what respect these judges are showing to ordinary people poor man has to borrow beg or steel or sell their propert, valuable and land to get any justice whatsoever .The courts are out of touch with ordinary people and only involved in political activities,, once you become involved in any kind of politics then you are in public domain and anybody can criticse and ridicule you ,. the current courts have lost the respect of millions and onlly people who support them are failing and failed politicians
You mean Ahmed Khalil, not Jalil.
malik will win and chief justice can not silence his critics forwver
Mr Mirza,it is Not Freedom of Expression but its absue. It is waste of time and Ur views are not worth taking seriously.U have nothing else to do agaisnt attacking Honorable judges and Army.
@Zafar Sultan: Sir, don't like freedom of expression and freedom of press? Try imposing martial law and contempt charges once again. The more political the SC and army becomes the more their roles would be scrutinized, don't like to argue and hate dialog, too bad. In fact Gen Zia had ordinance in which criticizing army was a crime. Try proposing the same Draconian laws and throw all dissenting voices including the judges in detention once again. Sorry but I would continue using my birth right of telling what I think is right. Regards, Mirza
The gentleman by the name MIRZA seems to be full of revenge against Judges. Has he anything to score besides showing his vengence agaisnt Honorable Judges and Army. It shows on everything to do against Govt,he has to stand by, irrespective of merit. It is pity his views are prinnted
As is practice, NAB may offer both of them plea bargain option.
If they are blaming Arsalan for the act of corruption than it can be true and one thing,should be at everyone`s ear that this case will be continue for two or three months then certainly it will be close without any kind of solution or else that is why our very own politicians claim that Pakistan is unsuccessful state.
@Mirza: It is different in this case as whistle is blown not only on Arslan but accomplices may be torn apart with their 'Khalifa type ' piety and home made justice.
NAB him!
Hahaha, Arslan may be the 'corrupt crown price' but when it comes engaging in super massive corruption and unbridled crookery Malik Riaz is the unchallenged King. Reoprts allege that not only this scandal has already caused a suicide but hundreds, if not thousand of people have been rendered homeless and penniless because of his shenanigans. May Alslan and Riaz both sink together. The only problem is that if Malik Riaz goes down, dozens of extremely powerful and influential people - uniformed and uniformed - may have to explain where part of their fabulous riches came from.