Clamour in Pak for Chief Justice's resignation

Pakistan's ruling PPP has demanded immediate resignation of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry amid calls from legal experts that he separate himself from benches hearing cases against a real estate tycoon from whom his son allegedly received millions of rupees.

Senior PPP leader Raja Riaz asked the Chief Justice, who recently launched suo motu proceedings against his son Arsalan Iftikhar on graft charges before recusing himself from the case, to resign without any delay.

"How will other judges of the Supreme Court hold a fair trial of the Chief Justice's son when his father is their boss? We request the Chief Justice to resign, at least till the verdict is given in his son's case," Riaz said.

While some legal experts also called for the Chief Justice's resignation, others have said he should not hear cases related to businessman Malik Riaz Hussain, from whom Arsalan allegedly received millions of rupees, and his real estate firm Bahria Town.
Zahid Bukhari, the counsel for Hussain, said the Chief Justice should not be part of benches hearing cases pertaining to Bahria Town.

Bukhari was engaged by Hussain to defend him in the apex court in the suo motu proceedings against Arsalan.

Most of the cases involving Hussain and Bahria Town are related to alleged irregularities in real estate deals.

According to media reports based on documents in the possession of Hussain, the expenses for several trips by Arsalan to London and Monte Carlo were paid by members of the tycoon's family. Arsalan allegedly received money from Hussain to influence the cases in the apex court.

Bukhari today also filed an application for the constitution of a larger bench to hear the suo motu proceedings against Arsalan.