LAHORE – When a group of politicians belonging to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) are using Dr Arslan Iftikhar case to criticise Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary, renowned lawyer and PPP Senator Aitzaz Ahsan said on Monday that if Arsalan was guilty of any wrongdoing, it would not be the fault of chief justice.
Talking to the reporters at the Lahore High Court premises, Aitzaz Ahsan also criticised a few anchor persons of different TV channels and said they had formed now their own party. He said the media should not air or publish such sensitive news that disgraced the independent judiciary.
Aitzaz added that some journalists exaggerated while some people added fuel to the fire regarding the issue. “The apex court will decide whether the Arsalan case is a conspiracy or not?” Aitzaz added.
He also confirmed that he had seen material against Arsalan Iftikhar but denied to comment saying the matter was in the court now. He still believed that the chief justice had no role in this whole episode.
Answering a query, he dispelled an impression that he wept upon seeing documentary evidences against Arsalan, and said he was deeply saddened but did not cry. “I wept only over the deaths of his mother and Benazir Bhutto,” he added.
He said he didn’t have any account on twitter. “I even don’t know how a message is posted on the social networking website,” he said adding several accounts with his photograph were being run on the internet. “I will inform everyone whenever I join twitter,” he added.
Aitzaz was of the opinion that Arsalan had full right of defence against allegations. He said Riaz’s return to the country would reveal the truth behind several issues. Riaz would have to appear before the apex court and give explanations on several issues.
Expressing displeasure over the statements of some PPP’s politicians criticising the chief justice, Aitzaz said their statements were not the party policy. “Only the statements of PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani will be the policy statements and they have both distanced themselves from the issue.”