Washington beureu chief for British newspaper the Sunday Times, Christina Lamb. —Photo credit: Twitter (@christinalamb)

In messages sent out Sunday on social media website Twitter, British journalist Christina Lamb has denied having been contacted for a planned ‘expose’ on ‘Familygate’ — the case allegedly implicating the Pakistani chief justice’s son Dr Arsalan Iftikhar and real estate tycoon Malik Riaz of financial wrongdoing.

The Supreme Court has taken up the case earlier last week following media reports alleging Dr Arsalan Iftikhar had sought favours from Malik Riaz, one of Pakistan’s biggest business magnates. Some reports suggested that the Arsalan Iftikhar had been trapped in the financial scandal in a conspiracy to malign the chief justice.

In one of the reports, a senior journalist had alleged that Malik Riaz had approached the Sunday Times’ Washington bureau chief Christina Lamb for a planned disclosure on the scandal while the chief justice was due to receive the international Jurists’ Award earlier this month.

Earlier today, Lamb 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, Lamb rubished claims that she had been approached for to “break the news”, clarifying that she had neither any knowledge of nor had spoken to anyone about the whole affair.

@christinalamb: “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!”

The chief justice’s son has been rumored to have received between Rs 300 to Rs 400 million from Riaz to influence the court in proceedings against the former Bahria Town chairman.

On Saturday, Arsalan Iftikhar recorded his statement in the apex court, denying having any links with the business tycoon. Meanwhile, an application by Riaz’s lawyer to constitute a larger bench to hear the case was turned down in an order later in the day.

Opinion

First line of defence

First line of defence

Pakistan’s foreign service has long needed reform to be able to adapt to global changes and leverage opportunities in a more multipolar world.

Editorial

Eid amidst crises
Updated 31 Mar, 2025

Eid amidst crises

Until the Muslim world takes practical steps to end these atrocities, these besieged populations will see no joy.
Women’s rights
31 Mar, 2025

Women’s rights

PAKISTAN’S legal system has issued some important rulings in recent days concerning women, which deserve more...
Not helping
31 Mar, 2025

Not helping

THE continued detention of Baloch Yakjehti Committee leaders — including Dr Mahrang Baloch in Quetta and Sammi ...
Hard habits
Updated 30 Mar, 2025

Hard habits

Their job is to ensure that social pressures do not build to the point where problems like militancy and terrorism become a national headache.
Dreams of gold
30 Mar, 2025

Dreams of gold

PROSPECTS of the Reko Diq project taking off soon seem to have brightened lately following the completion of the...
No invitation
30 Mar, 2025

No invitation

FOR all of Pakistan’s hockey struggles, including their failure to qualify for the Olympics and World Cup as well...