Are the media reports about your recommendations to the President, regarding the life ban on two players and fines on others, true?
Why don't you wait and find out? I have done my job. People said I wouldn't be able to deliver but I have and now it's up to the President.
Why did it take so long for your report to come out? It was supposed to be ready before the World Cup...
I had to take 62 depositions. The player availability for questioning had to be kept in mind. Then in the summer the high court is closed and the World Cup happened. I had to list the assets of the players. I was busy with my own judicial work. Then someone would come and name four others and they would come and take some other names. So it went on.
In the course of your investigation, did you find any evidence indicating the involvement of Indian players?
Just one or two. Basically the ones involving Asif Iqbal. The Indian angle was not in my mandate so I didn't probe the same.
How important were the Rashid Latif audio tapes?
Their transcripts are there in the report as an annexure. Four to five pages. It's evident that they may not lead to convictions but they can most certainly be used for corroboration of certain incidents. They basically suggested the involvement of players and referred to a few particular incidents as well.
If media reports are true some players are getting off lightly. Just some minor fines and so on?
Punishment was only recommended by me after taking into account the degree of guilt. In my view, the team as a whole was not at any time involved. Only certain players were. So fines basically depended, as I said, on the degree and nature of guilt. There were some borderline cases and these had to be weighed carefully on the scale of justice. I went through the evidence carefully and also decided whom to believe and whom not to.
"The team as a whole wasn't at any time involved. Only certain players were. Fines depended on the guilt."
But obviously, you are convinced of the wrong-doing of the players?
Yes! I'm convinced of wrongdoing or I wouldn't have recommended the bans or the fines.
Were you at any time pressurised to write your report in a way that suited certain guilty parties?
No. Nor did any player approach me. They knew of what mettle I was when I ordered contempt and perjury proceedings against Att-ur-Rehman.
Is there a confidentiality clause in your report? Is it going to be made public?
No confidentiality clause. Everything is in black-and-white. I think eventually it will be made public.
