Arsalan Iftikhar case: Suddle Commission submits initial findings to SC

Riaz says he does not accept the commission’s authority.

ISLAMABAD:

A one-man inquiry commission constituted to probe graft allegations against the son of the Chief Justice of Pakistan submitted an interim report to the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday, highlighting the results of the initial inquiry and complaining of non-cooperation from various quarters.

According to sources, the report submitted before the court states that contrary to real estate magnate Malik Riaz’s claims of receiving Rs342 million from Arsalan Iftikhar, the former could only provide proof for Rs5 million, which he spent while arranging foreign trips for Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry’s son.

“Riaz could only prove that he spent Rs5 million from his son-in-law’s account on Arsalan Iftikhar’s behalf. Arsalan, however, convinced the commission that he returned Rs4.5 million against the expenses incurred during his trips abroad. As proof, Arsalan produced a copy of the cheque through which he returned the money,” the report maintains.

While the much-awaited report has yet to be made public, the head of the commission, Shoaib Suddle, complained of several factors delaying the investigation and creating hurdles before the commission.

“The interior ministry did not cooperate with the commission. Despite serving several reminders, the ministry never placed the names of the accused on the exit control list. The ministry also transferred FIA officials, whose services were being sought by the commission,” the report stated.

Suddle requested the court to direct concerned parties in the case to cooperate with the commission so that it may bring the probe to a logical conclusion. Meanwhile, he said the commission was ready to hold an open hearing if both parties in the case agreed to sit together and present facts.

Arsalan Iftikhar’s counsel, Sardar Ishaq, said he was ready to appear before the commission at the next hearing, scheduled for December 7.

Riaz’s counsel Zahid Bukhari, however, rejected the report.

‘Arsalan Commission’

Malik Riaz said he did not expect justice from the one-man commission. “I already knew that the Suddle Commission is the Arsalan Commission,” said the property tycoon.

Riaz said he had submitted proof of the millions he received for Arsalan before the SC, but did not share them with the inquiry commission since he did not recognise it. He said the rent of the flat where the CJ’s son stayed in London was around Rs7 million a month, adding that he would submit further proof of extortion to courts in London.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2012.