LONDON: Senior British journalist Christina Lamb has brushed aside media reports of being contacted by anyone in the graft case against Dr. Arsalan Iftikhar, the son of Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, according to a foreign news website.
Christina Lamb termed as 'made up' the reports disseminated through social networking site Twitter.
Reports circulating in the social networking site claimed that Malik Riaz, the influential real estate tycoon of Pakistan had contacted the Washington Bureau chief of Sunday Times to expose the scandal right when Chief Justice was scheduled to receive the International Jurists Award-2012. It was a planned move to malign the Chief Justice who is considered incorruptible, the reports also said.
Today, Christina Lamb, however, tweeted from her account:
@christinalamb:
“have no idea how this started but can i clarify i am not planning a big expose on Familygate, have spoken to no one abt it.”
In another tweet she said: “any purported quotes from me on CJ issue are made up, all i know is what i’ve read in the media and have spoken to no one!”
A suo motto case is currently being heard by the Supreme Court of Pakistan on media allegations against Dr. Arsalan Iftikhar, son of Chief Jusitce Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. It has been alleged that Dr. Arsalan received about Rs400 million from the Chairman of Bahria Town, Malik Riaz, to influence the legal proceedings. However, Arsalan Iftikhar has submitted a five-page statement to the court, strongly rejecting any relationship with Malik Riaz.
Malik Riaz did not appear before the court on Saturday and his personal staff officer informed the court that he was undergoing a medical treatment in UK.