Arsalan graft case: Hearing adjourned till tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: The hearing of the suo moto notice of graft case involving son of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was adjourned till tomorrow 11:30 am, Geo News reported.

A three-member bench headed by the chief justice heard the case. The bench also includes Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif.

The CJ asked the TV anchorpersons to bring the material on the next hearing on which they conducted their programmes.

During the hearing the court asked for complete record of the Bahria Town Company. The court also asked the Chief Executive and the Chairman of Bahria Town to be present tomorrow along with the relevant record.

Arsalan arrived at the SC building with his lawyer Sardar Ishaq Advocate. Although, business tycoon Malik Riaz was absent, his Principal Staff Officer said he could not be contacted as he has gone to UK for treatment.

At the outset of the proceedings, the CJ remarked that if Arsalan found to be involved in the scam the law will talk its course.

On this, Attorney General Irfan Qadir said to the chief justice that he cannot be part of the bench. The CJ replied that the court is aware of the code of conduct but it is a matter of the honour of the institution.

The AG, while addressing the CJ said you are getting emotional on the matter that is why I am of the view that the chief justice should not sit in the bench. Justice Jawwad Khawaja observed that we do not need to get emotional.

After days of the capital being abuzz with rumours of a mega corruption scandal allegedly involving his son, the CJ took suo moto notice of media reports and summoned Arsalan Iftikhar Chaudhry, Bahria Town chief executive Malik Riaz, and Attorney General Irfan Qadir.

The electronic and social media have in the last few days been rife with reports about Arsalan Iftikhar allegedly receiving millions of rupees from the Bahria Town management under different pretexts in order to influence the apex court in favour of Bahria Town cases pending with the SC.

There were also allegations that the Bahria Town management financed multiple foreign trips taken by Arsalan and the CJ's family members and also paid for hotel and rented accommodation and cars. Additionally, there were reports of Arsalan receiving about Rs340 million in different heads from Malik Riaz.