Caveats for the guardians of justice
What strikes one are the contradictory stances taken by Malik Riaz at the Supreme Court and while addressing a press conference at an Islamabad hotel. Inside the courtroom, he was all respect for the SC and the chief justice of Pakistan. At the press conference, he railed against the SC and questioned the CJ’s integrity (which earned him a rap-on-the-wrist show cause notice for contempt of court). The SC bench now has to deal with two different issues. Regarding the alleged relations between Malik Riaz and Dr Iftikhar, the court, or any other body assigned the responsibility, will have to determine if the former was being blackmailed by the later or was in fact bribing him. Rs 342 million is no ordinary sum. The ex Bahria Town chief maintains that Arsalan had promised to help settle cases in his father’s court, but Malik Riaz “did not get any relief despite the money spent.” It has been pointed out that there was no case against Bahria Town before the CJ in 2010 when Dr Iftikhar’s first tour was arranged. How could Arsalan blackmail him in the absence of a case? If Malik Riaz is an honest man, why did he agree to be blackmailed? The former chief of the Bahria Town is a powerful person and has connections with the high and mighty. To accept that he would be blackmailed by a youngster is stretching the limits of credulity. The close ties of Dr Arsalan with Ahmad Khalil, an associate of Malik Riaz, the record of his luxury trips and that he has suddenly acquired a thriving business require a thorough probe.
The press conference was aimed at scandalising the judiciary and the CJ. Malik Riaz maintained that the court had become hostage to Arsalan who acted as a don. Malik Riaz suggested that the CJ had met him several times secretly. Also that the CJ met Prime Minister Gilani along with a sitting judge of the SC several times at Ahmad Khalil’s house. He also said that the CJ knew of the present case against Arsalan but delayed action on it. The SC Registrar maintains that Malik Riaz called on the CJ only when the later was deposed. It is now for the SC to take note of a serious attempt to undermine its prestige.
The honourable judges of the SC have to review if the code of conduct observed by them is in consonance with the best judicial standards. The members of the higher judiciary are supposed to live like hermits and shun the company of big business tycoons and politicians. Was the presence of the CJ at Ahmad Khalil’s house where the PM too turned up “unexpectedly” in consonance with these standards? Isn’t it required from the judges that they keep an eye on their close relatives, particularly their sources of earnings and the people they associate with?
Good article. A planned operation to entrap and defame a judge through his son is becoming visible. The conduct of the judge can also be viewed as not being consonant with reasonable judicial standards.
The money grabbing judge's son and the conspiring bribe givers out to be punished. The judges despite their evident shortcomings ought to escape consequences as they are victims of a sting and any evidence against them is inadmissable.
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