Malik Riaz refuses to appear before Suddle commission

Zahid Bukhari says his client, Malik Riaz, will not be appearing before the commission for its hearings.

Real estate tycoon Malik Riaz has refused to appear before the  inquiry commission in the Arsalan Iftikhar case, headed by former police official Dr Shoaib Suddle, his lawyer Zahid Bukhari said Monday.

Express News reported that Riaz will file a review petition in the Supreme Court on the constitution of the commission.

According to his counsel, Zahid Bukhari, Riaz will not be appearing before the commission for its hearings.

The commission, constituted on the Supreme Court’s orders, has obtained the complete record of the case from the court and the National Accountability Bureau.

Evidence will be collected from those are party in the case.

The media will be allowed to monitor the commission’s proceedings.

Once the court releases its directives, Dr Suddle will have to complete his investigation within 30 days. He will be granted the powers of a magistrate and will be able to call assistance from lawyers and deploy state machinery as needed.

The commission will launch an inquiry against Riaz, Dr Arsalan and Riaz’s son-in-law Salman Ahmed.

The commission will also probe SP Faisal Bashir and his subordinate officer’s link with Riaz along with their professional misconduct.