Supreme Court rejects Malik Riaz plea for larger bench

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan Saturday dismissed the request filed on behalf of Bahria Town Chairman Malik Riaz for the formation of a larger bench in the suo motto case of graft allegations against Dr. Arsalan Iftikhar, son of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. Rejecting the plea, the Supreme Court said the existing special two-member bench comprising Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain will continue the proceedings of the case. Earlier today, Zahid Bukhari, the counsel for Malik Riaz, submitted the application for larger bench in Dr. Arsalan case. "The formation of a larger bench on the basis of seniority has been requested," Bukhari said while talking to media persons. Dr Arsalan’s father and Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Thursday removed himself from the bench. It is pertinent to mention that the SC took suo moto notice after reports circulated in the electronic and social media about Arsalan Iftikhar allegedly receiving crores of rupees from the Bahria Town management under different pretexts in order to influence the SC in favour of Bahria Town cases pending with the apex court. It was reported that Malik Riaz paid between Rs300-400 million to Dr Arsalan and also sponsored his foreign visits.