ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued notices to former chief justice of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Rana Shamim and others after a shocking report on alleged directives made by ex-top judge of Pakistan Saqib Nisar in cases related to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz.
An investigative report quotes Shamim as saying in his alleged affidavit that Nisar had instructed an IHC judge to keep both father-daughter duo in jail at any cost till the general elections.
The court has reportedly served notice on the Jang/ Geo CEO Mir Shakil, senior journalist Ansar Abbasi over published the news report regarding manipulation of IHC judicial proceedings by former chief Justice of Pakistan in Panama case.
IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah has directed all the respondents to appear before the court in a personal capacity tomorrow (Monday).
Earlier in the day, Saqib Nisar rubbished allegations of issuing directives to a high court judge to not give bail to PML-N leaders Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz till the conclusion of the 2018 general election.
His reaction comes after the report sent shock waves across the country.
“Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz Sharif must remain in jail until the general elections are over. On assurances from the other side, he [Saqib Nisar] became calm and happily demanded another cup of tea,” The News quotes the Shamim’s affidavit of the former top judge of GB as saying.
Shamim’s submitted his statement under oath before the Oath Commissioner on November 10, 2021.
Both Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz were convicted by an accountability court in a corruption reference before the July 25, 2018 general elections. Their lawyers had approached court for suspension of the conviction but their case, after initial hearings, was adjourned till last week of July.
Former top judge Saqib Nisar in his statement termed the allegation as “white lies”. He also accused Shamim of embroiling him the controversy for not denying him extension as the chief justice of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Nisar said that he would respond to the baseless allegations.
Meanwhile, former chief justice GB apex court Rana Shamim sticks to his claims. He said that former CJP Saqib Nisar had no authority to extend his tenure.
