The Supreme Court on Thursday granted a week to Malik Riaz in the contempt of court case to arrange his defence counsel, as most of lawyers have been avoiding him to show solidarity with the SC.
A three-member bench headed by Justice Shakirullah Jan heard the proceedings of the case. Malik Riaz told the SC that he had not been able to arrange a counsel as no lawyer was ready to represent him. He requested SC to grant him 10 days to arrange a lawyer. Justice Shakirullah Jan remarked, “It is your problem if you have not arranged a lawyer, you have to respond over the issued show cause notice.”
Riaz told the SC that he had contacted four lawyers and they have demanded some time to think. He stated it was a matter of grave concern that Raymond Davis could get a lawyer, but not him. He told the court that two resolutions were passed in Islamabad District Bar that directed all lawyers not to defend him. Justice Shakirullah Jan said annoyingly that bars should not pass such resolutions that created hindrance in providing justice to the masses, because every citizen had the right to be able to defend himself through a lawyer.
The petitioner of the case informed the court that no one was stopping Malik Riaz from hiring a lawyer for his defence, as he had a full legal team that was defending him in various cases in courts. Malik Riaz assured the SC that he would arrange a lawyer after 10 days. Justice Shakirullah Jan said in case Riaz was unable to arrange a defence lawyer, the state would provide him one. The SC later granted seven more days to Riaz to arrange a lawyer and ad
Court issues arrest warrants for Malik Riaz, 6 others in land scam
An anti-corruption court on Thursday issued arrest warrants for real estate tycoon Malik Riaz, his son Ali Riaz, along with six others accused in a case regarding the illegal transfer of 1,350 kanals of land. Special Judge Ameer Chaudhry Khan, while issuing the arrest warrants, ordered the police to produce the accused before the court on June 25. In addition to the real estate magnate’s son, other accused include Muhammed Ashfaq, Milad Bibi, Iqbal Hussain Shah and Sheikh Sajidur Rehman. The court has issued arrest warrants of seven people, including Malik Riaz and his son Ali Ahmed Riaz in connection with a land corruption case filed in 2005.journed the hearing until June 28.