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

ISLAMABAD, July 30: Property magnate Malik Riaz on Monday gave more ‘evidence’ to a Joint Investigation Team of National Accountability Bureau of the alleged bribe taken by Arsalan Iftikhar, the son of Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

Mr Riaz appeared before the JIT for the second time and said that he would provide even more evidence in a week’s time.

Meanwhile, NAB received bank statements and details of credit cards of Arsalan Iftikhar from different banks, a senior NAB official told Dawn.

He said national banks had provided details of Arsalan Iftikhar’s bank accounts on the order of the State Bank of Pakistan.

“We had written a letter to the SBP requesting it to direct different banks concerned to provide details relevant to the case,” the official said.

The NAB official said that Mr Riaz provided documentary evidence of commercial transactions made by Arsalan Iftikhar with Bahria Town, a cluster of housing schemes owned by the tycoon in major cities of the country.

“Malik Riaz was questioned about details given by him in response to JIT’s questionnaire served on him during his last appearance before the JIT team on July 22,” NAB spokesman Zafar Iqbal said.

He said the property tycoon explained some commercial transactions involving huge amounts of money which allegedly benefited Arsalan Iftikhar.

“NAB will deeply examine these transactions. Malik Riaz has sought another one-week time for submitting more documentary evidence to substantiate his contention,” the spokesman said.

The material and information received from various banks and financial institutions are being evaluated by financial experts and reports on various financial trails were being compiled, the official said.

The JIT, he said, was already looking into money the laundering aspect associated with the case.

A notice to Arsalan Iftikhar for personal appearance this week was also being issued, he said. Supreme Court Registrar Dr Faqir Hussain was also being summoned in his private capacity, he said.

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