IHC seeks more arguments before indictment in Rana Shamim case

In the contempt case of former GB top judge Rana Shamim, Chief Justice Islamabad High Court Athar Minallah has said that the case is an open inquiry as it is the accountability of judges, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The chief justice also sought initial arguments in the case before the next hearing in which the indictment would begin.

The Islamabad High Court on Monday heard the contempt case against a former top judge of Gilgit-Baltistan Appellate Court Rana Shamim for writing an affidavit accusing former chief justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar of collusion to deny bails to top PML-N leaders before general elections of 2018.

CJ Minallah remarked that the affidavit pointed that all judged had compromised. He said it was an open inquiry as judges could not hold a press conference, nor could they issue a press release.

Lawyer Latif Afridi told the court that the original affidavit was submitted to the Islamabad High Court and Mr Shamim stuck to his earlier statement.

The additional attorney general who attended the hearing told the court that since the attorney general of Pakistan was in the hospital, he appeared before the court.

Counsel for Shamim told the court that the original affidavit was sealed and was brought to Pakistan now on the order of the court.

The chief justice remarked that the court had not opened the sealed envelope as yet.

He said it seemed that Rana Shamim gave a very big statement without any proof. It’s a very sensitive matter, he said adding was anyone allowed to point a finger at a judge?

He wondered if there was complete freedom to publish anything uttered by anyone against judges.

Reporter: Ehtisham Kiyani