IHC accepts Nawaz's plea seeking authenticity of video of Judge Arshad Malik

Islamabad High Court (IHC) Thursday accepted a miscellaneous petition of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif asking to determine the authenticity of secretly-recorded video of Judge Muhammad Arshad Malik in his appeal against his conviction in Al-Azizia reference. The IHC's Division Bench, comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhter Kiyani, issued a written order regarding the hearing on Nawaz's application. The order stated that accused Nawaz Sharif has submitted a petition to review the additional evidence in his appeal against the Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference judgment.

It further stated that paper book of the case had been prepared and shared with the respondents. The court sought reply from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in this regard within two weeks. During the previous hearing, Additional Prosecutor General NAB Jahanzaib Khan Bharwana admitted that the video had not been made part of the court record, adding the matter needed to be inquired.

Sharif's counsel Khawaja Haris Ahmed told the court that "both prosecution and defense want this court to decide the matter since it is in the interest of both the sides." He added that he wanted that in the interest of defense while the NAB wanted the truth for the prosecution's point of view.

Bharwana endorsed the argument of the defense counsel but argued that since the same judge Arshad Malik had acquitted Nawaz in the Flagship Investment reference; therefore, the prosecution's interest was to see if the judge had acquitted the accused with free mind or otherwise.