ISLAMABAD, March 13: The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday upheld decision of compulsory retirement of Rahat Nasim Malik, ex-regional commissioner income tax, and observed that criminal proceedings against him would also be initiated.

The SC bench— comprising Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, and Justice Hamid Ali Mirza— not only upheld the verdict of the Federal Service Tribunal, but indicated that in the detailed order observations would be made that criminal proceedings against the petitioner should also be initiated, as it had been proved that Mr Malik was maintaining a life style which was beyond his known source of income.

The petitioner had claimed that his house which was valued by investigation officer as worth Rs5 million, was owned by his wife, Irshad Arshi. When inquired by the court what was his wife’s source of income, the counsel for the petitioner stated that she was a designer working with a garment company. On further inquiry, it was revealed that she was drawing only Rs5,000 to Rs6,000 per month.

The accused was represented by KMA Samdani and Deputy Attorney General Sardar Aslam represented the state.