Govt. ordered speedy inquiry into graft allegations on CJ’s son

Islamabad. A speedy inquiry ” would be conducted into the alleged financial irregularities involving Hussain and the Chief Justice’s son Arsalan Iftikhar. The ruling Pakistan People’s Party and its allies decides after a crucial meeting.

The meeting, chaired last night by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, discussed several issues, including the graft allegations against Iftikhar and the handling of the fallout of the Prime Minister’s recent conviction of contempt by the apex court.

The Supreme Court took suo motu notice of the scandal involving Hussain and Iftikar and a two-judge bench last week. The apex court directed the Attorney General to take strict action against the Chief Justice’s son, the tycoon and his London-based son-in-law.

In a statement submitted in the apex court, Hussain acknowledged that his son-in-law had paid for Iftikhar’s visits to London and Monte Carlo and paid him millions of rupees to influence cases in the apex court.

A statement issued after last night’s meeting of the leaders of the ruling coalition rejected notions of any conspiracy involving the government in the case of the Chief Justice’s son.

The statement described reports of the government’s involvement in the high-profile case as baseless and unfounded.

On Friday, a meeting of all the judges of the Supreme Court had observed that the emergence of a “planted” TV interview of Hussain was indicative of a pre-planned conspiracy against the judiciary.

Referring to the Supreme Court’s conviction of the premier in April, the statement said: “The meeting appreciated the resolution passed by parliament endorsing the decision of the Speaker (of the National Assembly) against sending a reference to the Election Commission of Pakistan…for the disqualification of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.”

The statement added: “The speaker represents the dignity of the house”.