Crab Olympics

By: Sarah Eleazar

It seems lately that Shakespeare’s quote about the world being a stage and all men and women being mere players is playing out literally for our country. The theatrics our top echelons have employed in a choreographed play to the death tournament for power have stopped failing to impress. As the three arms of the State once again descend into the bucket (read Supreme Court) to display their exceptional crab mentality, the question in this round of Crab Olympics is: which crab will get away this time?

Private Contractor turned ‘Warren Buffet’ of Pakistan, Malik Riaz Hussein is a name that makes frequent rounds at all sorts of drawing rooms in Pakistan. A multi billionaire at the age of 59, there are few people in the country to match the level notoriety and reputation Riaz enjoys. A one man empire, Malik Riaz is famous for having a finger and toe in every pie that matters: all political parties according to PM Gillani enjoy the beneficence of Riaz; celebrated journalist Talat Hussain brings attention to the fact that a lot of notable journalists and analysts are good friends with Riaz, confidantes and perhaps even on his payroll; rumor has it that General Ashfaq Kayani’s brothers were a stone’s throw away from being implicated in a case similar to the one Arsalan Ifitkhar finds himself in and the whistle blowing incident might be the military’s preemptive strike on the Chief Justice; rumor mill also suggests the defendants in the Balochistan Missing Persons case, i.e. the ISI to be the ones airing Arsalan Iftikhar’s dirty laundry.

The first step to make sense of this suo moto notice that has the nation gripped in another episode prefixing ‘Gate’ would be to determine the stake holders: who wins in an implication and who loses? Facts mentioned earlier point towards the involvement of all three arms of the state. The executive and PM once out of the limelight now bring the judiciary to the dais where it fights for its reputation. The Army has its own bones to pick as it came under a lot of fire regarding the Missing Persons Case in Balochistan, furthermore the DHA construction contracts scam involving high ranking Army officers and murders most vile is a case rumored to soon be receiving its own suo moto notices. What better way to discredit the highest court in the land than to involve the Chief Justice in a graft case on his own son.  The whispering campaign used to bring this issue to light involves a large panel of journalists, some given land and houses on discounted rates by Riaz, some with documented proof of expenses incurred by Riaz on the behalf of Arsalan Iftikhar. The opposition as per usual gave its two cents by shedding light on close relations between the ruling party and Malik Riaz, only to step back after its own involvement with Riaz was revealed. The facts regarding the case are as follows: the Chief Justice’s son Arsalan Iftikhar stands accused of receiving up to 400 million rupees in personal favors from Malik Riaz, in turn for influencing his father’s court decisions in favor of Riaz. Malik Riaz claims to have documented proof and video tapes showing this allegation is true that he will reveal to the public, the defendant pleads not guilty.

Arsalan Iftikhar is not new to the murky world of corruption and allegations. General Musharaf used misconduct appropriated in Arsalan’s favor to get him an admission in Bolan Medical College as an excuse for removing the Chief Justice from his post. While tables turned on Musharaf and a halo appeared on Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudry’s head, according to Riaz, his son was busy reaping fruits of his father’s reinstatement. A doctor turned businessman, Arsalan Iftikhar is said to have obtained his position in Public Office through dubious means followed by a 90 million rupee construction empire built with the blessing of Riaz. Through all of this the Chief Justice cannot claim ignorance the way he does. It just doesn’t tie up. Which is why a certain segment of the ‘general population’ has begun asking for a resignation tendered by the Chief Justice so as to ensure the impartiality of the case as the brother judges in apex courts will find it hard to remain impartial given the sensitivity of the case. Bias is inevitable.

Malik Riaz on the other hand has switched tacks halfway. While last week his son tweeted vociferously about how ‘Arsi’ was given money to influence cases in his father’s favor, Riaz’s latest statement changes everything about the bribery scandal this was made out to be; now it’s extortion. Zahid Bokhari, Riaz’s attorney, it seems must have questioned the wisdom of Riaz admitting he bribed the Chief Justice’s son and has now changed his stance, admittedly a little too late.

One of the questions that arise from this conundrum is that was this all an elaborate frame job, where videos of Arsalan Iftikhar shopping at Harrods were being secretly made? If so what was the objective? Blackmailing the Chief Justice into influencing cases in Riaz’s favor or discrediting the Chief Justice completely and putting an end to his suo moto spree, which has implicated more ministers than in the last four decades. Another issue that comes to light is the uniqueness of this case which is charging the Chief Justice with guilt by association. Regardless of who wins here, a court precedent will now be set for future sons of Public Officials. The Lahore Commissioner’s son might get off after committing murder but the Chief Justice will have to see this through to the end. Whether this is a direct attack on his office and person, of that there is no doubt. Regardless of which way the axe swings now, the only one who loses is the Chief Justice. How the Apex courts rise to the occasion to defend the integrity of this institution will now be the focus of the nation’s attention.

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