LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) administrative committee headed by Chief Justice Qasim Khan here Friday removed from service former accountability judge Mohammad Arshad Malik who had sentenced ex-Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif over controversial video scandal.

The committee comprising Justice Mohammad Ameen Bhatti, Justice Ahmad Khan, Justice Ayesha Malik, Justice Shahid Waeed and Justice Ali Baqir, approved "removal from service" of video-scandal famed district & sessions judge Arshad Malik in light of recommendations made in a report of inquiry conducted by a high court judge.

PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz had unveiled a video clip in which Arshad Malik could be heard saying that there was "no proof of corruption against the deposed premier" in the Al-Azizia reference.

Maryam said the judge had contacted Nasir Butt and told him that he was feeling guilty and having nightmares ever since he announced the verdict. The PML-N leader claimed that the accountability judge was coerced into delivering the Al-Azizia verdict against her father.

Responding to the video, judge had rejected all the allegations leveled against him and termed the leaked video fake, fabricated and out of context. He revealed that PML-N leaders offered him bribe when he was hearing National Accountability Bureau (NAB) references against the Sharif family.

Later, Islamabad High Court summoned the judge and directed him to submit an affidavit explaining his position. Malik in his affidavit said he had been "blackmailed" by the supporters of PML-N because of an "immoral video" and admitted that he had met Nawaz Sharif at his Jati Umra residence and Hussain Nawaz in Saudi Arabia. The IHC had suspended the judge and repatriated him to his parent department (LHC) for further proceedings.

The LHC then made him an OSD and the administration committee approved an inquiry against him on charges of misconduct and violation of code of conduct. Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem held the inquiry and found the judge guilty of misconduct.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif has said that the dismissal of Arshad Malik has "proved the innocence" of Nawaz Sharif. He said that after the decision of LHC, Nawaz's conviction should also be set aside.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020