ISLAMABAD - Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, against whom several allegations have been levelled by business magnate Malik Riaz in the Arsalan Iftikhar affair, recused himself from sitting in a bench that would hear the pending cases of Bahria Town.As the hearing began, the chief justice said he would not be a part of the three-member bench, hearing the cases, including the murder of a security guard, session judge inquiry case and land grabbing. “Now a two-member bench comprising Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain would hear the cases,” he added.The chief justice said a three-member bench, headed by Justice Shakirullah Jan, was already hearing the contempt of court case against Malik Riaz.A suo motu was taken by the chief justice against his son Dr Arsalan Iftikhar and Riaz, following media reports that Iftikhar had received ranging between Rs 300 and Rs 400 million from Riaz to influence the judicial proceedings.The Chief Justice said he was inspired from the conduct of Hazrat Ali, who disassociated himself from a battle when felt that his personnel interests got involved instead of Allah’s will. The CJP said the judiciary should not be biased and all the verdicts would be announced on merit.Syed Zahid Bokhari, who represented the business tycoon in the Arsalan case, informed the court that now he would represent Bahria Town as Hamid Khan had excused appearing on behalf of company.Later, the court adjourned the hearing of the Bahria Town guard murder case till June 25.

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