LAHORE - The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Saturday demanded a thorough probe into the allegations that real estate magnate Malik Riaz has been giving benefits to army men, bureaucrats, lawyers and journalists to get undue favours.

Addressing a press conference here at bar’s office SCBA President Yaseen Azad, Secretary General Muhammad Aslam Zar and other office bearers also demanded complete investigation into the leaked off-air video clips of Malik Riaz’s TV interview that is being taken as a proof of a government conspiracy against the judiciary.
The SCBA president said an across-the-board accountability of politicians, media persons, army men, bureaucrats and lawyers should be done to expose those who took benefits from Malik Riaz.
Azad said the judiciary should not be maligned due to the Arsalan Iftikhar case as the accusation levelled against him pertain to an individual who also does not have a direct link to the institution. However, he said a high-level investigation should be launched into the matter and action be taken against those responsible. The investigation team in Arsalan’s case should have people who are respected by all sections of the society and people have faith in them.
He said the apex court had made a decision on merit in the Arslan case. The chief justice proved that he would not spare even his son, the SCBA president said. He said a father cannot be held responsible for the mistakes of an adult son.
Arsalan’s case and video scandal were planned conspiracy against the judiciary just to blame it and to break down its credibility and impartiality, Azad said. He demanded an end to allegations against the judiciary and said it was not appropriate to drag the judiciary in every matter. “An institution cannot be penalized for a mistake of an individual”, Azad said.