ISLAMABAD, June 20: The National Accountability Bureau has received a letter from the attorney general asking it to investigate the Dr Arsalan Iftikhar-Malik Riaz case.

A Joint Investigation Team comprising officers of NAB, Federal Investigation Agency, senior police officers and legal experts will be formed to look into allegations of bribe allegedly given by property tycoon Malik Riaz to Dr Arsalan Iftikhar, the son of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, to get relief in court cases being heard against him (Malik Riaz).

According to an official of the bureau, NAB chairman Admiral (retd) Fasih Bokhari decided to constitute the JIT in line with the Supreme Court order of June 14, asking the federal government to take necessary action against Dr Arsalan Iftikhar, Malik Riaz and his son-in-law.

After the SC order, Admiral (retd) Bokhari had told reporters that it was a case between two individuals and had no financial implications for the national exchequer, so the case did not come under NAB’s jurisdiction.

But Zahid Bokhari, counsel of Mr Malik Riaz, said on June 15 that NAB could investigate the case because in accordance with Section 9 and 18 of the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), 1999, NAB could investigate such cases.

NAB spokesperson Zafar Iqbal confirmed that the bureau had received a letter from the office of Attorney General asking it to form a JIT to investigate the case.