The Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued on Tuesday show-cause notices to former chief judge of Gilgit-Baltistan Rana Shamim, Jang Group CEO Mir Shakil ur Rehman, The News Editor Amir Ghauri, and journalist Ansar Abbasi, and sought their reply within seven days.
IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah took up the case regarding allegations against former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar. Shamim's son informed the court that his father did not appear for the court proceedings as he reached Islamabad the night before and was feeling unwell, Aaj Newsreported.
Senior journalist Abbasi, author of the news report that carried Shamim's remarks, appeared before the court. Attorney-General Khalid Javed Khan and Islamabad Advocate-General Niazullah Niazi were also present.
Justice Minallah said that Abbasi's report has challenged the sanctity of the court, saying that it was necessary to restore people's faith in the judiciary.
Justice Minallah stated that there was a difference between social media and traditional media, saying social media did not follow a set editorial policy, while a newspaper did.
The IHC said that Abbasi and Shamim must present evidence before the court. The court has directed the respondents to submit their replies within seven days.
Accusations against ex-CJP: IHC issues notices
A story published in The News stated that in 2018 Nisar influenced judicial proceedings to prolong the detention of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz following their conviction in the Avenfield apartments reference. As per the alleged affidavit, Shamim claims Nasir had travelled to GB for vacations in 2018 and on one occasion appeared “very disturbed” while speaking to his registrar on the phone, asking him to get in touch with a high court judge.
Shamim said that Nisar was finally able to get in touch with the judge and told him that Nawaz and Maryam must remain in jail until elections are over, after which “he became calm and happily demanded another cup of tea”.
According to the document, Shamim said he told Nisar that Nawaz had been falsely implicated, to which the former CJP replied: “Rana Sahib the chemistry of Punjab is different from GB.”
CJP Saqib Nisar rubbishes allegations
Former chief justice Nisar has rejected the allegations of the former chief judge of Gilgit-Baltistan. He, on telephone, told media persons that the accusations levelled against him were “contrary to the facts”; therefore, he did not want to respond to the “plain lies” of the ex-GB chief justice.
The ex-CJP said Shamim had asked him for an extension but he did not accept his request, adding that the ex-GB CJ had also complained to him about the same.