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PPP for speedy inquiry into graft allegations on CJ's son

The ruling Pakistan People's Party and its allies have decided to conduct a speedy inquiry into allegations that real estate tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain had made payments of Rs342.5 million to the Supreme Court Chief Justice's son.

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The ruling Pakistan People's Party and its allies have decided to conduct a speedy inquiry into allegations that real estate tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain had made payments of Rs342.5 million to the Supreme Court Chief Justice's son.

A meeting of the leaders of the ruling coalition decided that an "expeditious and impartial inquiry" would be conducted into the alleged financial irregularities involving Hussain and the Chief Justice's son Arsalan Iftikhar in accordance with the Supreme Court's orders.

The meeting, chaired last night by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, discussed several issues, including the graft allegations against Iftikhar and the handling of the fallout of the Prime Minister's recent conviction of contempt by the apex court.

The Supreme Court took suo motu notice of the scandal involving Hussain and Iftikar and a two-judge bench last week directed the Attorney General to take strict action against the Chief Justice's son, the tycoon and his London-based son-in-law.

In a statement submitted in the apex court, Hussain acknowledged that his son-in-law had paid for Iftikhar's visits to London and Monte Carlo and paid him millions of rupees to influence cases in the apex court.

A statement issued after last night's meeting of the leaders of the ruling coalition rejected notions of any conspiracy involving the government in the case of the Chief Justice's son.

The statement described reports of the government's involvement in the high-profile case as baseless and unfounded. 

On Friday, a meeting of all the judges of the Supreme Court had observed that the emergence of a "planted" TV interview of Hussain was indicative of a pre-planned conspiracy against the judiciary.

Referring to the Supreme Court's conviction of the premier in April, the statement said: "The meeting appreciated the resolution passed by parliament endorsing the decision of the Speaker (of the National Assembly) against sending a reference to the Election Commission of Pakistan...for the disqualification of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani."

The statement added: "The speaker represents the dignity of the house".

The coalition partners reiterated their "resolve to uphold the supremacy of parliament as envisaged in the Constitution".

The opposition PML-N and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf have challenged the speaker's ruling in the apex court.

The Supreme Court had convicted Gilani and given him a sentence of less than a minute for refusing to reopen graft cases in Switzerland against President Zardari.

Legal experts believe the apex court could give a ruling this week that could decide the premier's fate.

The ruling coalition has discussed all available options to deal with such a situation, including the choice of a candidate to replace Gilani if he is disqualified, sources said.

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