A day after claiming he had "bomb-like" evidence against the son of the Pakistan chief justice, a real estate tycoon on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that his relatives had paid a whopping Rs 342.5 million to Arsalan Iftikhar, including for losses he incurred while gambling.
Malik Riaz Hussain, the founder of Bahria Town real estate firm, accused Chief Justice Iftikhar M Chaudhry's son Arsalan of blackmailing his relatives in a statement submitted to the apex court, which had taken suo motu notice of media reports on improper links between the tycoon and Arsalan.
The chief justice initiated the suo motu proceedings against his son last week but subsequently recused himself from the case, following criticism from legal experts and
political parties.
The case, which could have far-reaching ramifications, is currently being heard by a two-judge bench comprising Justices Jawwad Khwaja and Khilji Arif Hussain.
Hussain said in his statement that his son-in-law Salman Khan, who is based in London, had made cash payments totaling Rs 327 million to the chief justice's son on various occasions.
The cash payments and expenses on hotels and luxury flats during visits to London and Monte Carlo by Arsalan came to a total of Rs 342.5 million, the statement said.
The tycoon included copies of Arsalan's passport, cheques, wire transfers, bank statements and tenancy agreements with his statement to back up his claims.
He said his son-in-law had paid all expenses for three trips made to London by Arsalan during 2010-11 and one visit to Monte Carlo in 2010.
Arsalan was accompanied by an unidentified woman and a man during his trip to Monte Carlo, and 10,000 Euros were paid in cash for losses incurred by the chief justice's son while gambling, the statement said.
The tycoon's son-in-law also paid by wire transfer for renting a Range Rover Sport vehicle that was used by Arsalan during a visit to London in 2011, the statement said.
Hussain contended that the chief justice's son had obtained the payments by "blackmailing" his son-in-law.
Arsalan had claimed that he would influence the outcome of cases in the Supreme Court involving Bahria Town if he was not paid, the tycoon alleged.
However, no relief was provided to Bahria Town by the apex court, Hussain said.
He further contended that the President, other politicians or political parties and intelligence agencies were not involved in the matter. Hussain said there was no "conspiracy" against the Supreme Court and that he had spoken out on the issue due to his "personal problems".
Arsalan, 34, has denied Hussain's allegations. He has told the apex court that he has never met Hussain or taken any financial favours from him.
After hearing Hussain, the Supreme Court adjourned the matter till June 14.
The tycoon's counsel Zahid Bukhari on Monday told the court that Hussain would return to Pakistan with evidence against Arsalan. "He is bringing with him evidence that will be like bombs."
Most of the cases in the apex court involving Hussain and Bahria Town are related to alleged irregularities in real estate deals. Hussain has close ties with all leading political parties and the powerful army.
Most of his real estate projects have been developed with the cooperation of the armed forces.
