Place my name and Malik Riaz's on ECL: Arsalan

ISLAMABAD: Arsalan Iftikhar told the Supreme Court on Monday that his and Malik Riaz’s name should be placed on the Exit Control List and they should be sent to prison. The court warned Arsalan Iftikhar from speaking like this.

A two member bench of the Supreme Court comprising of Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain resumed hearing of the suo moto case regarding accusations of dubious transactions between the Chief Justice’s son, Arsalan Iftikhar Chaudhry and business baron Malik Riaz Hussain.

During proceedings, Arsalan Iftikhar informed the court that his father (Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry) had barred him from their residence. He requested the court to provide him security as Malik Riaz or anyone else could harm him. The court directed the Attorney General and Secretary Interior to provide security to Arsalan.

At one point, the bench reprimanded Dr Arsalan for speaking in spite of the presence of his counsel.

Malik Riaz’s counsel Zahid Bukhari informed the court that his client would not take any steps which would harm Arsalan Iftikhar.

During the hearing Justice Jawwad S Khawaja said that till now the case is only based on allegations by a few people, out of which two people including Geo News senior anchors Hamid Mir and Kamran Khan have already given their statements in court. Three others said that something wrong had transpired. Malik Riaz had told these people that money was given to Arsalan Iftikhar. Justice Jawwad added that if this was a conspiracy it would be proven during the course of the trial.

Zahid Bukari requested the bench to form a commission similar to the memo commission to probe this matter. Bukhari informed the bench that his client Malik Riaz wanted to come to the court and record his statement and requested two days time. The bench told Bukhari to inform his client that he had been ordered to record his statement.

The bench emphasized that Malik Riaz should record his statement, but Bukhari argued that his client was ill and would submit his statement after two days.

Ali Zafar appeared as the counsel for Bahria Town during the proceedings. Zafar informed the bench that Secretary Bahria Town could not appear in the court to which Justice Jawaad remarked that this was the court and should not be turned into Bahria Town.

FBR submitted Malik Riaz’s tax returns to the court. A member of the FBR legal team informed the bench that all income tax returns could not be submitted due to a lack of time. The court ordered that tax returns for Bahira Town and Partnerships should be submitted on Tuesday and should be till 15 May 2012.

The Supreme Court also issued a notice for the third time to Ali Riaz Malik to appear before the bench on Tuesday when the hearing of the case resumes.