Arsalan suo moto case: SC dismisses Zahid Bukhari’s recommendations

ISLAMABAD: A two member bench of the Supreme Court resumed hearing of the Arsalan Iftikhar suo moto case and has begun writing the short order.

During Thursday’s proceedings the bench dismissed two of the three recommendations of Malik Riaz's counsel Zahid Bukhari. Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja remarked that the case would not be sent to NAB nor would there be a commission formed.

During earlier proceedings, Bukhari had recommended that the case be sent to NAB, a commission similar to the one which probed the memo scandal be formed or the case be heard by a larger bench.

The short order is being written on the basis of statements recorded by parties in the case along with those of Hamid Mir, Kamran Khan and Shaheen Sehbai.

Shaheen Sehbai admitted that the son of the CJ was targeted to hatch a conspiracy against the judiciary.

According to the shorter order Malik Riaz had tried to purchase justice by offering bribes which was a grave crime. The order further states that he who bribes and he who is bribed shall both be sentenced to hell.

Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja wrote in the order that the truth should be brought forward and a person is innocent until proven guilty, adding that Malik Riaz, Salman Ahmed, and Arsalan Iftikhar should get a fair trial which is their basic right.

Justice Khawaja further said that Malik Riaz had accepted that despite spending more than Rs340 million he could not get relief. The media should not be used by such persons who do not respect the law and constitution, the order said.

Concluding its order, the Supreme Court directed the Attorney General Irfan Qadir to take strict action against Malik Riaz, Salman Ahmed and Arsalan Iftikhar.