Never met Malik Riaz… I swear!

Dr Arsalan Iftikhar, son of chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, on Saturday submitted his statement with the apex court challenging graft charges leveled against him. The SC took a suo motu notice on Tuesday into allegations that Arsalan had been provided Rs 300 to Rs 400 million by property tycoon Malik Riaz. In his five-page-long written statement, Arsalan denied having any association with Riaz, his daughter or son-in-law. “It is denied vehemently and in strongest terms any relationship, intimacy or acquaintance of whatsoever nature with Malik Riaz Hussain, his daughter or son-in-law whose names are also not known to me. I have never met with anyone of them in relation to any business concerned or for any other purpose in Pakistan or outside Pakistan,” the statement said. Calling the allegations baseless, frivolous and unfounded, arranged to spread in electronic and print media in absence of any cogent and logical evidence acceptable under the law of evidence, Arsalan said Malik Riaz was liable to be dealt with strictly in accordance with law and he should be awarded adequate punishment for dragging him to court and maligning the august institution of judiciary.
Arsalan also termed the statements of TV anchors brought on court record as “nothing but hearsay”, stating that the same were allegedly based on the statement of Malik Riaz Hussain.
He also challenged the claims of Kamran Khan, Shaheen Sehbai and Hamid Mir and stated that their claims of showing material to them by Malik Riaz “suffer from serious contradictions”.
Arsalan also made an effort to distance his conduct from his father, the top judge of the country, saying he was a 32-year-old man and he earned his bread and butter through his own business.
He also asked Malik Riaz to establish the allegations along with explanations and what he wanted to achieve (by making allegations).
Arsalan stated that in the year 2009, he traveled on his own expenses, with his family to London and hired a flat, details of which were available with him.
“Similarly for the year 2010 and 2011, same practice was adopted and an amount of Rs 4,500,000 was deposited through (cheque No 1287353 of Standard Chartered Bank, Lahore) on August 15 2011 by my cousin namely Muhammad Aamir Rana, into Zaid Rehman’s (account No 020502000003244 Meezan Bank, Gulberg Lahore),” he added.
Expressing ignorance about the money paid on his behalf, Arsalan said he did not know that from whose credit card the rent of the flat, which was around £3200 per week, was paid.
“Perhaps, I had stayed for four weeks, so the total rent, amounts to about £10,000. When I reached London, I had to sign occupancy agreement by submitting the copy of my passport, therefore the formalities per rules were completed, however, the rent had already been paid,” he asserted.
He prayed to the court that his reply may not be considered final and conclusive because Malik Riaz Hussain, despite categorical directions of the court, had failed to appear and produce any material against him. “Therefore, I reserve my right to put up my defence accordingly, when any incriminating evidence is produced before this honourable court,” he maintained.
Bench: Earlier, the Supreme Court dismissed a request filed on behalf of Malik Riaz for the formation of a larger bench to conduct the suo motu proceedings of graft allegations against Dr Arsalan.
Rejecting the plea, the court said the existing two-member bench of Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain will continue the proceedings of the case.