ISLAMABAD: Former Gilgit-Baltistan’s (G-B) top judge Rana Shamim on Monday submitted in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) his original affidavit, in which he had levelled serious allegations of judicial manipulation on ex-chief justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar.
The IHC had given Shamim an extension for the submission of the affidavit by today, December 20, warning him of initiating the process of indictment if he failed to comply with the order.
IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the contempt case, which was initiated after a report in a national daily published the controversial affidavit last month.
During today’s hearing, the additional attorney general informed the court that Attorney General Khalid Jawed Khan was admitted in Aga Khan University Hospital and would return by Thursday.
Meanwhile, Lateef Afridi, Shamim’s legal counsel, informed the court that the original affidavit had been submitted to the IHC. “The real affidavit was sealed and has now been brought to Pakistan on the court’s order,” he said.
Justice Athar Minallah told Shamim that the court wanted him to open his own sealed envelope. “Rana Shamim has admitted that the content published in the newspaper is the same as in his affidavit. Shamim has cast doubt on all judges of the IHC,” the chief justice added.
Shamim’s lawyer Latif Afridi said a new inquiry will be launched. “This is an open inquiry. This is our accountability,” the judge said. He added that Shamim had apparently made “a very big statement without any evidence” and given an impression that all IHC judges were “compromised”.
Afridi said his client maintained that he did not “leak” the affidavit. “Can a finger be pointed at any judge of this court? The court will not ask the journalist about the source of his news. This court is hearing many important cases related to fundamental rights,” Justice Minallah remarked.
The IHC fixed December 28 for a preliminary review hearing of the contempt case and decided to seal the affidavit, which will be opened at the next hearing in the presence of the attorney general.
In a written order on December 10, IHC Chief Justice Minallah had warned that charges would be framed if the maker of the affidavit, Shamim, the publisher and editor-in-chief of Jang Group Mir Shakeelur Rehman, senior journalist Ansar Abbasi and resident editor Amer Ghouri failed to show it was executed and published for bona fide purpose.
In the ‘leaked’ affidavit, on which Ansar Abbasi’s report was based, Shamim allegedly stated that Nisar during his visit to GB made a call to an IHC judge and asked him to ensure that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz are not released on bail before July 25, 2018 general elections.
Justice Minallah had subsequently taken notice of the report and later issued show-cause notices to Abbasi, Rehman, Ghouri as well as Shamim under the Contempt of Court Ordinance.
