LAHORE, June 15: Calling for a transparent inquiry into the Arsalan-Riaz scandal, the Pakistan Bar Council says the issue has become a major challenge for the executive to restore its image.

The PBC executive committee which met here on Friday adopted a resolution on behalf of the legal fraternity and reiterated its commitment to continue to support the independent judiciary.

“The PBC and the people of Pakistan expect that a high-level, transparent and depoliticised investigation will be carried out expeditiously under an independent body. The bar warns that any politicisation of this matter will further erode the trust of people in the executive,” the resolution said.

It said justice must be carried out and those found guilty must be dealt with full force and rigour of law. Justice should not only be done but also be seen to be carried out without fear or favour.

The bar also expressed concern over the endemic nature of corruption prevailing in every section of society. “It is for this reason that the PBC continues to encourage the Supreme Court to take up the challenges posed to it, especially during this difficult period of our country’s transition to democracy,” it added.

The PBC said the legal community was apprehensive over the allegations of corruption against the chief justice’s son.

It expressed concern over open discussions in the media on sub judice matters and said the bar believed in freedom of information, but the holding of media trials and unbridled discussions on pending judicial matters seriously impinged upon the norms of justice.

The PBC called upon press councils and media regulatory bodies to work out guidelines on this delicate matter.

The resolution said the PBC firmly believed that a consensus in bar associations and councils was required on policy matters.

The PBC announced that it would hold a meeting of elected leaders of major bar associations and councils on June 21 in Lahore to discuss future strategies, including calling strikes, taking out rallies and adopting resolutions in favour of the judiciary.

Former presidents of the Supreme Court Bar Association will also be invited to the meeting to be presided over by the executive committee’s chairman, Burhan Moazzam Malik.