IHC to indict Rana Shamim, co-accused in affidavit case on January 7

Shamim had drafted the affidavit, accusing the previous high decide of Pakistan of judicial manipulation.

The most recent improvement within the case got here throughout a listening to headed by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Monday. The courtroom introduced January 7, 2022, because the date for indictment of the accused.

“Why should not the courtroom determine to indict him within the contempt case?” IHC CJ Minallah requested in the course of the listening to.

Shamim, Ansar Abbasi, and others appeared earlier than the courtroom.

On the outset of the listening to, the sealed envelope containing Shamim’s affidavit, which was acquired by the IHC final week, was introduced in courtroom.

Legal professional-Basic of Pakistan (AJP) Khalid Javed Khan mentioned that Shamim has to tell the courtroom earlier than whom he notarised his affidavit and who leaked it.

“The one who drafted the affidavit ought to open it,” the AJP mentioned.

The courtroom then directed Shamim’s counsel, Lateef Afridi, to open the envelope.

“The courtroom desires the envelope to be opened in your presence and so that you can see what’s inside your self,” the IHC CJ remarked.

Afridi mentioned that he won’t open the affidavit.

“It had been sought by the courtroom, due to this fact, it should unseal it,” Afridi mentioned.

“We acquired this [envelope] via courier however we by no means knew what it contained,” Justice Minallah mentioned.

“Your shopper [Shamim] had it despatched [from London] via a courier service so then why are you hesitating to open it,” he requested.

The courtroom directed Shamim to unseal the envelope after which the sealed envelope was handed over to the previous GB decide.

Shamim mentioned that he confirmed that it was his affidavit which he had personally sealed. Nevertheless, he mentioned, “the courier service did not seal the affidavit however the envelope through which the sealed affidavit was put [to be sent]”.

Justice Minallah mentioned that Shamim’s response that had been submitted in courtroom earlier has positioned all the burden on journalist Ansar Abbasi.

“He [Shamim] additionally mentioned that the doc might have been leaked by the notary public,” the IHC CJ mentioned, including that this matter just isn’t restricted simply to former CJP Nisar.

“The affidavit has forged doubt on the courtroom. It’s a assertion which everyone seems to be contemplating the reality,” Justice Minallah mentioned.

He requested Abbasi if he desires to say something, to which Abbasi replied that he had a chat with Shamim earlier than the information story’s publication.

“He [Shamim] could also be unable to recall correctly and is forgetting, however I’ve defined this in my story and I’ve his textual content message as properly,” Abbasi mentioned.

Whereas presenting his arguments, the AGP mentioned that Shamim has dedicated contempt of courtroom.

With out naming anybody, the AGP mentioned: “It’s being reported for the final three days that the affidavit was recorded in somebody’s workplace.”

“Surprisingly, no assertion of denial of [the reports] has been issued,” he mentioned, transferring the courtroom to indict all of the accused within the case.

At this, the courtroom determined to border expenses towards the ex-judge of GB and others on January 7, 2022.