Pak SC rejects request for larger bench
11 Jun 2012 1:43 AM GMT
Pakistan's Supreme Court has rejected a request for the formation of a larger bench to hear a suo motu case regarding the alleged payment of about Rs 400 million by a real estate tycoon to Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry's son.
A bench comprising Justices Jawwad S Khwaja and Khilji Arif Hussain, which is currently hearing the matter, on Saturday rejected the request made by Zahid Bukhari, the counsel for tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain.
The Chief Justice had initiated the suo motu proceedings but recused himself from the case against his son Arsalan Iftikhar.
The tycoon's lawyer had submitted an application for the constitution of a larger bench on Saturday morning.
He said a larger bench should hear the case as it was an important matter having implications at the national level.
The apex court had directed the tycoon and the Chief Justice's son to submit detailed statements.
However, the tycoon did not submit any statement as he was currently being treated for a medical condition abroad and was expected to return to Pakistan next week.
Arsalan Iftikhar submitted a five-page statement that said all the allegations levelled against him were baseless.
He asked the court to take action against the tycoon for making false allegations against him and for involving the judiciary in the matter.
Arsalan said he had personally borne all expenses for his trips abroad during 2009-11 and submitted documents to back up his claims.
A bench comprising Justices Jawwad S Khwaja and Khilji Arif Hussain, which is currently hearing the matter, on Saturday rejected the request made by Zahid Bukhari, the counsel for tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain.
The Chief Justice had initiated the suo motu proceedings but recused himself from the case against his son Arsalan Iftikhar.
The tycoon's lawyer had submitted an application for the constitution of a larger bench on Saturday morning.
He said a larger bench should hear the case as it was an important matter having implications at the national level.
The apex court had directed the tycoon and the Chief Justice's son to submit detailed statements.
However, the tycoon did not submit any statement as he was currently being treated for a medical condition abroad and was expected to return to Pakistan next week.
Arsalan Iftikhar submitted a five-page statement that said all the allegations levelled against him were baseless.
He asked the court to take action against the tycoon for making false allegations against him and for involving the judiciary in the matter.
Arsalan said he had personally borne all expenses for his trips abroad during 2009-11 and submitted documents to back up his claims.
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