Pak chief justice out of son's case
8 Jun 2012 1:25 AM GMT
Pakistan's Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry on Thursday recused himself from a case against his son Arsalan Iftikhar, who allegedly received up to Rs 400 million from tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain to influence cases in the apex court.
The Chief Justice made the decision when a three-judge bench headed by him resumed hearing the suo moto case against his son this afternoon.
Attorney General Irfan Qadir again objected to the Chief Justice's inclusion in the bench, saying it amounted to a conflict of interest.
The Chief Justice, who has been criticised by legal experts for taking up the case against his son, subsequently acknowledged that the Attorney General's objection and preliminary arguments had made him come to the conclusion that he should disassociate himself from the matter.
'The Quran says you are responsible for your own actions, not your children's... We have faith and believe in Allah,' the Chief Justice said.
He contended that he had no knowledge about the son's profession or business dealings. Saying that a special bench would be formed to hear the case, he left the courtroom. Iftikhar again appeared in the apex court on the second day of the hearing while real estate tycoon Hussain did not come for the proceedings.
Hussain's counsel Zahid Bukhari said he was being treated for a health condition in Britain.
Geo News anchor Kamran Khan appeared in court and told the bench that the tycoon had shown him documents, including copies of Iftikhar's passport and receipts for payments, related to Iftikhar's three visits to London and one to Monte Carlo.
Khan said the documents showed that the Chief Justice's son had visited Monte Carlo with a woman.
The documents further showed that Iftikhar and others had lived in expensive flats and hotels during their visits to London.
Payments for travel, accommodation and shopping by the Chief Justice's son were made with credit cards and bank accounts operated by Hussain and his relatives, Khan said.
However, Khan said the tycoon had not given him copies of these documents. Khan also submitted a written statement in court.
The Chief Justice on Wednesday initiated suo moto proceedings against his son after several TV news channels reported on the alleged payment made by the business tycoon.
The Chief Justice has pledged that anyone, including his son, who affected the dignity of the apex court would not be spared.
The Chief Justice made the decision when a three-judge bench headed by him resumed hearing the suo moto case against his son this afternoon.
Attorney General Irfan Qadir again objected to the Chief Justice's inclusion in the bench, saying it amounted to a conflict of interest.
The Chief Justice, who has been criticised by legal experts for taking up the case against his son, subsequently acknowledged that the Attorney General's objection and preliminary arguments had made him come to the conclusion that he should disassociate himself from the matter.
'The Quran says you are responsible for your own actions, not your children's... We have faith and believe in Allah,' the Chief Justice said.
He contended that he had no knowledge about the son's profession or business dealings. Saying that a special bench would be formed to hear the case, he left the courtroom. Iftikhar again appeared in the apex court on the second day of the hearing while real estate tycoon Hussain did not come for the proceedings.
Hussain's counsel Zahid Bukhari said he was being treated for a health condition in Britain.
Geo News anchor Kamran Khan appeared in court and told the bench that the tycoon had shown him documents, including copies of Iftikhar's passport and receipts for payments, related to Iftikhar's three visits to London and one to Monte Carlo.
Khan said the documents showed that the Chief Justice's son had visited Monte Carlo with a woman.
The documents further showed that Iftikhar and others had lived in expensive flats and hotels during their visits to London.
Payments for travel, accommodation and shopping by the Chief Justice's son were made with credit cards and bank accounts operated by Hussain and his relatives, Khan said.
However, Khan said the tycoon had not given him copies of these documents. Khan also submitted a written statement in court.
The Chief Justice on Wednesday initiated suo moto proceedings against his son after several TV news channels reported on the alleged payment made by the business tycoon.
The Chief Justice has pledged that anyone, including his son, who affected the dignity of the apex court would not be spared.
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