ISLAMABAD: The contempt of court case against Malik Riaz, former chairman of Bahria Town, commenced and continues in the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday, DawnNews reported.

A three-member bench led by justice Shakirullah was hearing the case.

Malik Riaz requested that the court should give him 10 days to appoint his counsel, and the court granted him the time to arrange a lawyer in a week.

However, the court made it clear that after seven days neither Riaz nor his counsel will be granted any more time.

The former president of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf Gujjar requested the court to include Riaz's name in Exit Control List (ECL). However the court did not include his name in the list as he complied with the court's orders.

Moreover, Asfraf Gujjar gave reference of the press briefing conducted by Riaz during which he refused to adhere to the orders of the court. On which the bench asked Riaz to avoid any interaction with the media.

The hearing has been adjourned till June 21.

Earlier, during a press conference on Tuesday, Riaz raised various questions on the transparency of Arsalan Iftikhar suo motu case and made claims that he met Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry in the presence of his son, Arsalan Iftikhar. He said that the Chief Justice knew about the business dealings and should have taken suo motu action before the media broke this news.

He alleged that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani met Iftikhar Chaudhry at Khalil Ahmed’s residence, who is considered to be an associate of Riaz.

He further admitted that he has been blackmailed as a businessman and said that, “I did not bribe anyone but was blackmailed. Blackmailers were assigned to follow me and I did not bribe anyone, my son-in-law did.”

Riaz concluded the press conference by saying that he will address the media representatives again after three days and will present important evidenc During the press conference, Riaz raised various questions on the transparency of Arsalan Iftikhar suo motu case and made claims that he met Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry in the presence of his son, Arsalan Iftikhar. He said that the Chief Justice knew about the business dealings and should have taken suo motu action before the media broke this news.

He alleged that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani met Iftikhar Chaudhry at Khalil Ahmed’s residence, who is considered to be an associate of Riaz.

He further admitted that he has been blackmailed as a businessman and said that, “I did not bribe anyone but was blackmailed. Blackmailers were assigned to follow me and I did not bribe anyone, my son-in-law did.”

Riaz concluded the press conference by saying that he will address the media representatives again after three days and will present important evidence.