Contempt case: SC to indict Malik Riaz on July 16

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday announced that business tycoon Malik Riaz will be indicted on July 16 in the contempt of court case, Geo News reported.

The court also issued notice to Attorney General Irfan Qadir and appointed him as prosecutor in the case.

A three-member special bench of the apex court comprising Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice Ejaz Afzal and Justice Athar Saeed conducted the hearing of the case “Contempt proceedings against Malik Riaz Hussain by order of the Chief Justice of Pakistan.”

In its order, the SC stated that Malik Riaz has, prima facie, committed contempt of court.

The court had issued a show cause notice to Malik Riaz for scandalising and ridiculing the judiciary through his press conference relating to the Dr Arsalan case where he claimed that in some of the meetings he had with the chief justice, the incumbent registrar of the Supreme Court and Dr Iftikhar, the chief justice’s son, were also present.

Riaz, through his counsel Dr Basit, had tendered an unqualified apology and said that he holds all judges of all courts in highest esteem, particularly Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

In his reply Malik Riaz submitted that as he was denied the opportunity to explain his position in court, he lost self-control, adding that he addressed the press conference to prevent the ruin of Bahria Town, which was brought to the brink of disaster.

He, however, submitted that if any remark made by him was adjudged to have any adverse tendency on the administration of justice, he offered an unqualified apology for that. Riaz reiterated his confidence and integrity in the Supreme Court of Pakistan and its chief justice.