Pakistani CJ summons son on graft charges

Pakistan's Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhary yesterday summoned his own son in the graft charges leveled by some media organization linking him with a powerful business tycoon.
Dr. Arslan Iftikhar left government service a few years ago and developed his small businesses, but some TV channels alleged he took a bribe of Rs 300 million or more from Malik Riaz to clear him from cases already under trial in the Supreme Court.
The chief justice took suo moto notice and called his own son in the court along with the attorney general.
Dr. Arslan appeared and clarified in open court that he has nothing to do with any such dealing and media reports are mere allegations.
The chief justice called for the records of the business tycoon who was represented by his staff, mostly high ranking retired army officers who informed the court that Malik Riaz is under treatment in London.
The legal community has welcomed this gesture of the chief justice and declared this action in line with the principles of Islamic justice.
“After this historic action of bringing his own son in the open court the chief justice has proved that there is nothing wrong on their part”, Zulfiqar Bhutta told Arab News.
Attorney General Ifran Qadir objected that the chief justice should not hear the case under Section 3 of the judges code of conduct but the chief justice replied that his own son is being alleged.
Private TV channels that leveled these allegations are also being asked by the court to produce whatever evidence they have in the court to prove their allegations.