Chief Justice Athar Minallah of the Islamabad High Court has said that the contempt case of former GB top judge Rana Shamim is an open investigation because it involves the accountability of judges. The Chief Justice has also requested preliminary arguments in the case before the next hearing, when the indictment will begin.
On Monday, the Islamabad High Court heard a contempt case against Rana Shamim, a former top judge of the Gilgit-Baltistan Appellate Court, for writing an affidavit accusing former Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar of collusion to deny bail to top PML-N leaders ahead of the 2018 general elections. CJ Minallah noted that the affidavit indicated that all judges had compromised. He stated that it was an open investigation since judges were unable to hold a press conference or publish a press release.
Mr Shamim’s lawyer, Latif Afridi, informed the court that the original document had been presented to the Islamabad High Court and that Mr Shamim had maintained his previous declaration.
The additional attorney general who attended the hearing told the court that he appeared before the court since Pakistan’s attorney general was in the hospital.
Shamim’s lawyer told the court that the original affidavit had been sealed and had been transported to Pakistan on the court’s instruction.
The court had not yet opened the sealed packet, according to the chief justice.
He stated that it appeared like Rana Shamim made a major claim without providing any evidence. He went on to say that it’s a very delicate situation, and that no one should raise a finger at a judge
He wondered if anyone could publish anything they said about judges without fear of retaliation.
