Snare for others can prove to be your own destruction. The real-estate tycoon, Malik Riaz has done exactly that and by committing the ugly reality that he tried to bribe his way into the conscience of the Chief Justice through his son, he is hoisting with his own petard. Bribery is a punishable crime according to the statute books of our country. Thus, one of the accused has confessed his sinister act that he tried to bribe. It is really commendable that the two-member bench of the apex court did not tinker with the fringes of the case and very judiciously tackled it head-on. Rolling up the case involving the Chief Justice’s son, Dr. Arslan, Malik Riaz and his son-in-law, the venerable court has handed over the matter to the Attorney General who will now decide the future course of the case. On the other hand, NAB Chairman has said that the said case does not fall under the jurisdiction of NAB as the matter has not affected the National Exchequer and it is an affair between two individuals. The legal eagles have a different view as according to them, NAB can investigate the Aralangate as per Article 9 of the constitution a la it did in the case of Double Shah where again the National kitty was not affected. The SC has proved its integrity by sending the cause celebre that has excited widespread interest to the government. Had the court been biased, it would never have asked the Attorney General to take strict action against Dr. Arsalan, Malik Riaz and his son-in-law. The Supreme Court has put the ball now in government’s court and the nation is on pins and needles to see how the government plays its cards. As a humble citizen of Pakistan, I would solicit the government to allow Dr. Arsalan to reach plea bargain with the concerned quarters and should return the amount he took from Malik Riaz if he had been the beneficiary of tycoon’s largess. Certainly, Dr. Arslan can return the whopping amount of Rs. 32 Crore as he himself admits that he has the assets of 900 millions and has as many as 300 employees. Or there would be a damage of colossal magnitude to many individuals and institutions which are not directly implicated in the poignant story.
Wah Cantt, June 16.
