ISLAMABAD: Balochistan chief minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch did not consult former chief justice of the apex court before appointing Dr Arsalan Iftikhar as the vice-chairman of the Balochistan Investment Board (BIB) last week, his spokesperson declared on Saturday.
Dr Arsalan Iftikhar, son of former Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, was appointed vice chairman of the BIB on June 21.
The appointment has been criticised since Dr Iftikhar was implicated in a financial impropriety case in 2012. Then Chief Justice had taken a suo moto notice on media reports where it was alleged that he had received between Rs300 and Rs400 million from property tycoon Malik Riaz to influence judicial proceedings.
“I don’t think that Dr Baloch consulted Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on the appointment,” the Balochistan government's spokespeson Jan Buledi told The Express Tribune.
Setting aside the notion that Dr Arsalan was accommodated on the recommendation of his father, he said “it was the chief minister’s own initiative.”
Meanwhile , Dr Malik defended his decision to appoint Dr Arsalan, justifying the appointment before opposition legislatures who had raised their objections during the Balochistan assembly session.
“It was my own decision to hire the services of Dr Arsalan,” said Dr Baloch. Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran, an opposition legislature affiliated with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal ( JUI-F ) protested that the appointment will have serious repercussions for the province. He termed the employment a political bribe.
However, the chief minister glorified Dr Arsalan’s services for the province as a junior official in the health department few years ago. He further added that Dr Arsalan has the capacity to attract investment in the province which he said is plagued by Baloch militancy and sectarian extremists for the last over a decade.
COMMENTS (22)
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I don't see any comments from Baloch nationalists on the Arslan stories at all. Maybe his appointment is something that justifies their efforts to free their homeland.
The character of Dr Arsalan is mushkook. It is giving bad name to ex CJ his father and giving bad name to Mr IC.The CM should revise his decision if he considers Mr Iftikhar an honest and up rite person.
Why are Baloch unhappy with the country? That becomes clear when one comes across this travesty..a corrupt nincompoop to be foisted on the hapless Baloch!!
How can this newspaper claim that the cm justified the appointment by saying he hired chaudhary junior of his own accord. There is no justification in this statement, only a blatant admission of nepotism. So if there is no true justification, then i feel that this is a ripe case for a suo moto notice. Time for the chaudharys of the court to taste their own medicine.
If he says no bribe that means it surely is bribe. Remember when we used to say there no OBL in Pakistan. Thanks God we have stopped saying that after his death.
@MAD: CM is an angel.....!!,!!
Come on Pakistanis don't be surprised, this is a small price to pay for "independent judiciary"
I had great respect for Dr Malik, the CM of Balochistan but now I can only say " shame on you , Dr Malik"
The nation wonders how Dr Malik only saw the right potential in Dr Arsalan among millions of other well educated , experienced and accomplished candidates who would have also met the Criteria of the portfolio if there was any , but then none of them were the son of a high profile retired CJP. This is a classic example of nepotism and naked corruption at its core.
Probably there is a divine hand in his story of rag to riches or a bag full of goodies were dropped from heaven for him. In this corrupt system every one is naked. The only salvage from this is to wrap up the system , revamp it completely, dismantle the bureaucracy, wipe out the corrupts and cull their generations on waiting.
By using influence of his pious and saintly PaPa he allegedly made "Rs300 and Rs400 million from property tycoon Malik Riaz to influence judicial proceedings." Balochistan Investment Board is making a very good and wise investment decision to use his expertise to share this kind of 'profits' for themselves or indirectly the pious PaPa Ji.
Dear Mr CM
Seems like Mr Arsalan Iftikhar has such exceptional abilities that among the 180 million Pakistanis he was appointed this position. I ask you to recommend this talented individual as CM Balochistan. Seems that vice-chairman is such a meagre role that we would not be able to benefit from his true potential.
So much for the promise of a corruption free government by Dr. Malik
Thanks to Daddy's role in ensuring rigged elections. How cheaply they have sold their souls and what a grevious penalty awaits them. Daddy has ensured that tens of millions will remain poor while his family and their associates can continue to rob Pakistan with impunity.
In Pakistan
Saad Rafique from owning only a Motorcycle can become a Billionaire owner of Paragon City Housing Bilor Family from KPK can become billionaire just just by selling chaat and running a cinema
Zardari can become the President , bilawal can change his Fathers name from Zardari to Bhutto
Nawaz can become Richest family in Pakistan, he can change tax laws so that Hamza can import 1200 cc hybrid cars contract awarded already.
So dear countrymen why cant this chap no matter corrupt can be rewarded for his fathers sins
Beside his name being Iftikhar, will someone stand up and tell what qualification this man has to justify this job? How many other candidates were considered and what made him better than those? That will finish this debate.
The appointment of Arsalan will send a negative message to opposition and will damage Justice Chaudhry's reputation further.
Death of Merit
The corruption allegations remain. so do allegations of tax evasion and blackmail. CM of Balochistan is degrading himself by trying to justify what is obviously payback by PMLN for services rendered.
Wow! AI had quite a few titles during his Papas reign, Dr, Chief of Police, a Business Man, Negotiator and Commission Agent, and now this. I am confused? The question remains how did he became multi Millionaire in such a short span of time. People know there background, but sitting eyes wide shut and lips stitched. .