Who is behind it?
Malik Riaz has finally come up with his version of the Arsalan Iftikhar affair, this time again indirectly through a journalist. According to him the CJ is thoroughly honest. He is in fact fighting an admirable battle against corruption. Malik Riaz only has beef with Arsalan who received millions of rupees from him claiming that he would intercede with the CJ in cases against the Bahria group which he never did. He still wanted more. Arsalan was in fact blackmailing him. Things are apparently not that simple. If Arsalan was balckmailing Malik Riaz, what stopped the latter from getting a case registered against him or directly approaching the court with evidence?
It is a case of incrimination by implication. The aim is to weaken the position of the SC by targeting the CJ. Look at the CJ, is the message, who speaks from a moral high ground but fails to take notice of his son’s ill gotten wealth.
Three media persons who were provided access to the files and other evidence related to Arsalan’s tours to Britain in 2009, 2010 and 2011 talk about lavish spending. This included renting of luxurious apartments for the whole family, for full one month during one of the tours, renting of luxury Range Rovers and shopping at Harrods. The family was presented gifts also. The junkets were arranged by one of Arsalan’s Lahore based friends who was also working for the Bahria group.
Apparently Arsalan enjoyed the free trips. That he undertook three consecutive junkets at Bahria Foundation’s expense indicates that the connection was consensual. Any self respecting person would hesitate from accepting the offer of funding of a costly pleasure trip by a friend, all the more so if he can himself afford the expenses. Accepting the favour thrice indicates some sort of quid pro quo. Arsalan thus brought bad name to his upright father.
CJ Iftikhar formed a three judge bench to hear the cases related to Bahria group instead of hearing them alone precluding any possibility of favour. While talking to Kamran Khan, Malik Riaz conceded that he received no favour from the court and instead 42 cases were decided against him.
It appears, however, that Justice Iftikhar’s judgment as a father was less than sound. How come a judge who took action against scams involving scions of powerful politicians failed to notice the sudden improvement in the fortunes and lifestyle of his own son? Why didn’t he ask his son, who claims to run a thriving construction and telecom business with a turnaround of Rs 900 million and employing 400 people, how he managed to acquire all this? How did the banks agree to provide him money to invest without any collateral? What was the quid pro quo agreed with those who favoured? Why didn’t he notice the three trips abroad joined by practically every family member except the CJ himself? Agreed that the father is not responsible for the misdeeds of his son under the Islamic law. But is he not expected to keep an eye on his family members lest anyone indulge in some indiscretion that might compromise his prestigious position?
CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry is a thoroughly honest and courageous man. He is the first CJ in the country’s history to defy a military ruler and take on powerful offenders irrespective of consequences. One had expected that he would be extra careful about guarding his flank. That this failed to happen saddens all those who stand by independent judiciary.
Malik Riaz has denied anyone was using him in the Arsalan affair. That the tycoon continued to bribe Arsalan despite getting no relief in return suggests that he might have been egged on by others. He had close ties with the PPP and the security agencies who were both under pressure from the court and were unhappy with the CJ. Could one of them be using Arsalan to malign the judiciary?
Shaheen Sehbai who was the first of the three journalists to tell the story of Arsalan Iftikhar’s shenanigans and coined the term “Family Gate” points the finger at the PPP. It was a well prepared conspiracy to take the pressure off the party big wigs, he suggests.
He conveniently forgets that the security agencies were equally unhappy with the CJ. Soon after the revival of the independent judiciary, the CJ took up the issue of the missing persons. The case of the Adiyala jail abductees was particularly annoying for the powerful agencies who were made to produce the remaining prisoners in precarious conditions. The two benches of the SC which took up the cases of the Baloch missing persons and called DG FC to answer charges of abduction and killings were really too much for the agencies.
The writer is a former
academic and a political analyst.
C.J. is guilty by association! His son continues to embarass him. He is like a albatross round his neck. Caesars wife should be cleaner than white..Sometimes the mud sticks
One cannot exclude the the possibility of a conspiracy against the C.J. Who stands to gain from it. the writing is on the wall/ Care to read it.-
Le juge en chef du Pakistan est confronté à moment le plus difficile de sa vie. Il a été une épine dans l'œil d'un grand nombre. On pourrait faire valoir qu'il n'a pas abordé avec quelques jalons importants dans l'histoire mouvementée du Pakistan comme mai 12 carnage et son incapacité à se concentrer sur les coupables derrière l'incendie criminel quotidienne à Karachi et au lieu d'ordonner l'arrestation des voyous, il a laissé la question dans les mains d'un gouvernement coruupt et inefficace.
Dr MM Khan a déclaré «coupable» M. Iftikhar Ahmed, sans l'achèvement de l'affaire qui est entendue devant la Cour suprême du Pakistan.
Je soupçonne qu'il ya une conspiration profonde à partir d'un groupe hétéroclite qui trouvent le juge en chef du Pakistan un obstacle à leurs actes malhonnêtes et par associationg ancres malhonnêtes comme M. Shaheen Sebhai et Kamran Khan, ils ont réussi à exploser le scandale, sans même de confirmer l'authenticité des documents présumés qui leur est présentée par M. Malik.
Je pense que le Dr Khan devrait attendre que la poussière s'installe et les documents dits sont présentés par le magnat qui pense qu'il peut déloger juge en chef.
Attendez le Dr Khan
Dr Sb. you are an idiot person because still charges has to be proven in the court. I am sure this whole matter is fabricated by the bloody Pakistani Government and rubbish allies.
better you need to learn from Islam that if something has not been proven, you cannot convict anyone.
we all the reasons behind this whole story. According to media prime minister of pakistan's wife if can shop for 800, 000/- pounds, his sons, etc. what to talk about others. better you need to learn the lesson.
you do not have any brain to think. This is 1st time in the Pakistani history that PM, President, Army Chief, ISI Chief and other feel fear because of strong character of CJ.
I thank you for your polite and patrionising comment. I suspect you know my age hence the title Sahib. I did not know i was a idiot but i assure you i will take a I.Q test to confirm your diagnoses.
Now the actuell subject! The writer of the article himself is surprised over the behaviour of the CJ over the sudden or the gradual richness of his son who seems to have deserted my profession for richer pastures through different routes. I wish him good luck and happiness.
When i was growing up(not in pakistan) every time i indulged in mischief which was destructive in nature my teacher used to mention that my father would be ashamed of me!(guilty by associaton). I would be ashamed of myself
for bringing my father into a embarassing situation. A stern look at the breakfast table said it all
I
I am continuing from my previous comment. I agree with you that C J innocent but associations do matter. Would Arsaln have got so much publicity if he was not CJ,s son.! CJ may be cleaner than white but he did submit to Musharaf for his present position but later on stood his ground and won numerous accolades both home and abroad.
i recently had a visit from a rich man from Pakistan and he quite arrogantly said he buys judges when in trouble. Is it true? In the land of pure every body is innocent. The CJ has received the unkindest of all–from his own son
The Chief Justice of Pakistan is facing most difficult time of his life. He has been a thorn in the eye of many. One could argue that he did not tackle with some important milestones in the chequered history of Pakistan like 12th May carnage and his failure to focus on the culprits behind daily arson in Karachi and instead of ordering arrests of the thugs he left the matter in the hands of a coruupt and ineffective government.
Dr M M Khan has declared Mr Justice Iftikhar Ahmed 'guilty' without the completion of the case which is being heard in the supreme court of Pakistan.
I thank you for your comments. Please try to understand them. Since he was appointed the C.J mr.Choudry has been dogged by controversy regarding his son. His rapid rise to wealth is amazing tribute to his non medical intelligence. Surely if my child was doing so well economically it would surely BE not lost on me! I would revel in it ,perhaps show off a present too. This is also known as pride by association!
Nostalgia reminds me the days of Pres. Ayub when his sons dominated Ghandari industries! He was getting unpopular with the public and in exasperation he turned to his adviser and said why am i being blaimed for the action of my children! His adviser replied Sir this is exactly because they are your children/ you should controll them.! It became a political issue.
In my second comment i have also voiced my concern about the possibility of conspiracy against the CJ. Here you seem to agree. May i remind you perceptions matter and sooner this matter the better it is for the nation.
I suspect there is a deep conspiracy from a motley group who find Chief Justice of Pakistan an obstruction to their dishonest deeds and by associationg dishonest anchors like Mr Shaheen Sebhai and Kamran Khan they managed to explode the scandal without even confirming the authenticity of the alleged documents presented to them by Mr Malik.
Je pense que le Dr Khan devrait attendre que la poussière s'installe et les documents dits sont présentés par le magnat qui pense qu'il peut déloger juge en chef.
Attendez le Dr Khan
Pakistan is full of losers.
Pakistn is on path of self destruction. Now can one save someone who is bent on destroying itself. I feel sorry for people living in that country.
Pakistan privately owned media with the help of corrupt military created political leaders and Mullahs has completely corrupted the minds of civil society.No body tries to think logically.Did anybody analyze the charge sheet Parvez Musharraf issued to CJ? who decided these allegations wrong and acquitted the CJ? If he was acquitted, he was restored at the same post on which he was working and he has taken oath for which for this on PCO of Parvez Musharrf.He did not took oath on Constitution of Pakistan so he is a PCO Judge and can not hold position of CJ of Pakistan.But he is playing with the destiny of the country and no one is trying to stop him.
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