The damage done

Justice for all

It is sheer irony that CJ Iftikhar Choudhry who had diligently pursued cases of perceived corruption on the part of the scions of political leaders in power should be witnessing his own son in the dock on similar charges. A well known journalist has given details before a SC bench of the evidence he was shown by Malik Riaz concerning the finance of the foreign tours of Arsalan and his family in 2009, 2010 and 2011. It was reportedly a lavish affair. In one case alone an expensive London apartment was booked for a month, there were rented luxury Land Rovers along with shopping and gifts. Another widely known journalist has come out with the revelation that Arsalan’s foreign junkets were financed by Malik Riaz through a businessman who also works for the real estate tycoon and has been till recently one of Arsalan’s close friends. That Arsalan should be spending lots of money abroad at someone else’s expense year after year leads to the question whether it was a case of entrapment of a raw young man or a consensual affair between Arsalan and his financier.

One does not question the CJ’s uprightness. The cases of Bahria Town were always heard by a three-member bench and never by the chief justice of Pakistan alone. Questions are however bound to be raised regarding the CJ’s judgment as a father. The foreign trips took place year after year and CJ’s own family accompanied Arsalan. Did he ever try to discover how his son had managed to acquire so much wealth? Did he ever ask him who had given him the money for investment in his construction and telecommunication business that according to Arsalan is worth Rs 900 million now with over 400 employees? Did Arsalan possess enough collateral to borrow the funds from a bank? What were the terms and conditions connected with the funds provided? What were the obligations undertaken by Arsalan in return for the favour?

The CJ has done well to dissociate himself from the bench hearing the case. Many eyes will be focused on the new bench as it proceeds with the case. The mere repetition of Islamic junctions will not do. The least that needs to be done is to thoroughly probe every aspect of the issue. Justice should not only be done but seen by all and sundry to have been done.