Malik-Riaz-reu-670
Real estate tycoon Malik Riaz (C) waves to members of the media as he leaves after appearing before the Supreme Court in Islamabad June 12, 2012. – Photo by Reuters.

LAHORE: Real estate tycoon Malik Riaz’s counsel in the Supreme Court, Zahid Bukhari, has distanced himself from his client’s words during a press conference on Tuesday, said that he held no involvement in or responsibility of it, DawnNews reported.

Speaking to media representatives at the Lahore High Court on Wednesday, Bukhari said that he was only responsible for what was said in court.

Bukhari termed Riaz’s words at the press conference “his personal opinions”, adding that he had avoided answering questions raised by reporters for the same reason.

The SC had summoned a record of the press conference earlier today. Sources told DawnNews that the press briefing was discussed in length during an hour-long meeting attended by 12 apex court judges on Wednesday.

Clutching a small size Quran in his hand, a visibly angry Riaz had asked three questions from the SC during his Tuesday press conference.

a) “He [chief justice] should explain how many times he met me in the dead of the night and whether or not Arsalan Iftikhar was present there?”

b) “Was the chief justice not present at several meetings that took place at the residence of my business partner Ahmed Khalil where the prime minister [Yousuf Raza Gilani] and a sitting judge of the Supreme Court were also present?”

c): “I ask the chief justice to hold a Quran and clarify how long he has known about the role of Dr Arsalan and why he failed to take notice until now?”

The Bahria Town chief had also said, “In Punjab we are nailed by Chaudhry Nisar and in the federal capital the Supreme Court is screwing me.”

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