Suggests inviting Scotland Yard to probe matter. PHOTO: FILE
Leading human rights lawyer Asma Jahangir on Monday raised questions about the role of the Supreme Court regarding Dr Arsalan Iftikhar’s case.
Asma, a former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), also suggested inviting a Scotland Yard (metonym for the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service of London) team to probe the case if the country’s institutions were not deemed trustworthy by the judiciary.
Talking to reporters at the Lahore High Court premises, Asma alleged the court was not meeting the requirements of delivering justice in the case against Arsalan in the Bahria Town scandal. She also rejected the appointment of Federal Tax Ombudsman Dr Mohammad Shoaib Suddle, the officer tasked by the apex court to investigate the case, after it barred the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from investigating the matter. She alleged that the apex court wanted to influence the investigations, as Suddle is said to have close links with Arsalan.
“The Supreme Court should ask the Scotland Yard to conduct the investigation into Arsalan Iftikhar’s case, if it has no confidence in the national institutions,” she said. Asma pointed out that Suddle also regularly accompanied Arsalan at various events. Therefore, he could not be expected to conduct a transparent investigation into the case.
Asma said Arsalan should, however, be given the benefit of the doubt. But she also reiterated that everyone should be treated equally under the law.
Criticising the court, she said if there were any questions over the NAB’s investigation team, then it could have been changed instead of forming a new inquiry team.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 4th, 2012.
I dont think Ms. Asma Jehangir deserves the coverage she is getting. Recommend
Why not invite Scotland Yard to investigate Ephederine, IPPs, Target killing and Swiss cases.
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I think the Supreme Court’s actions in Arsalan’s case are raising serious questions about its impartiality. It’s likely to hurt the institution more than the individuals in the long run unless the court reverses course to allow normal investigative work to proceed without judicial interference.
Please read more at http://www.riazhaq.com/2012/06/pakistans-familygate-mediagate-scandals.html
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I wish she takes interest in the Ephederine, Rental Power , Hajj, NICL, Steel Mill and Swiss cases as well
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Asma, Ahtazaz, Ali Ahmed Kurd indirectly while Faisal Raza Abidi directly telling us that Musharraf was right in removal of Chief Justice…….
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Musharraf must feal vindicated now. History has its way of correcting itself. First, mukhtara mai episode, then the cj and front man arsalan being caught red handed and now the journalists bribery scandal. We now just need the truth about bugti, aq khan, lal masjid and afia to come out and history would be written correctly.
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Asma is right…..SC is giving favor to Arsalan iftikhar.
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Asma is right. One person who is a close friend of Iftikhar Ch and Arsalan should not be preferred over a state institution i.e NAB which has legal authority to investigate financial crimes. This case has brought bad name to the credibility of judiciary. The pillar of the state is losing its credibility only due to corruption of one person and judiciary is bent upon to protect him at any cost.
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