Tag: Rana Shamim

  • High court accepts former judge’s apology for accusing Saqib Nisar of favouring Imran Khan

    High court accepts former judge’s apology for accusing Saqib Nisar of favouring Imran Khan

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday accepted the unconditional apology of former Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Chief Justice (CJ) Rana Muhammad Shamim.

    Earlier, Shamim submitted an apology to the high court because of his own controversial affidavit that incriminates former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar of favouring Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

    IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah expressed satisfaction over the apology by Rana Shamim.

    Justice Minallah remarked that the effect of Shamim’s affidavit has died down with the unconditional apology . He said that, “there is no case against him unless he backtracks from what he has stated in the apology”.

    The court also exempted the former judge from personally appearing at the next hearing on September 29.

    Former judge Rana Shamim apologises to court for accusing Saqib Nisar of favouring Imran Khan

    Last week, Rana Muhammad Shamim submitted an unconditional apology to IHC and completely disowned a controversial affidavit associated with him.

    The first unconditional apology was submitted to the Court on September 12, 2022. However, at the time he stood by his allegations against former CJP Saqib Nisar. Then again on Friday (September 16), he submitted an unconditional apology, disowning his own ‘controversial’ affidavit and withdrew from its contents.

    The affidavit contained allegations that Saqib Nisar had attempted to influence a case against former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif and his daughter, Maryam Nawaz, in an attempt to bring Imran Khan into power.

    In the apology submitted on Friday, the former CJ said, “I tender an unconditional apology for an affidavit which was neither correct nor required.”

    Expressing his regret over the “grave mistake”, the judge said it should never have happened.

    “I place myself at the mercy of this honourable court,” he added.

    He, further said that the affidavit was due to his “glaring misunderstanding and unintentional mistake”.

    “Hence, I withdraw from the contents of the said affidavit. I profusely apologise for the wrong and unnecessary affidavit”, he added.

    “I, while suffering through the extreme stress of loss of my close family members in such quick succession, realised the importance of writing down the incident in my knowledge as soon as possible, as per my beloved late wife’s will; therefore, I chose to do so during my transit stay in London,” he wrote.

    Earlier, this month the high court fixed a contempt case against Shamim, on September 5.

  • Court fixes contempt case against former Chief Judge Rana Shamim

    Court fixes contempt case against former Chief Judge Rana Shamim

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has fixed a contempt case against former Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Chief Judge (CJ), Dr Rana Muhammad Shamim, on September 5.

    Shamim allegedly signed an affidavit that incriminates former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar.

    The affidavit contained allegations that Saqib Nisar attempted to influence a case against former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif and his daughter, Maryam Nawaz, in an attempt to bring Imran Khan into power.

    The authenticity of the affidavit, which surfaced in one of Pakistan’s leading newspapers in November 2021, has been in question.

    Journalist Ansar Abbasi who published this investigative report has also been called in for contempt of court.

    Earlier in January, IHC indicted Rana Shamim for allegations that he levelled against Saqib.

    At the time, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah deferred the framing of charges against the media personnel who were also named in the case, including journalist Abbasi and Jang Group owner Mir Shakeel-ur-Rehman.

  • IHC indicts ex-GB judge Rana Shamim in affidavit case, defers journalists’ indictment

    IHC indicts ex-GB judge Rana Shamim in affidavit case, defers journalists’ indictment

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday indicted former Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Judge Rana Shamim for allegations that he levelled against former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar in a signed affidavit in London.

    IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah has deferred the framing of charges against the media personnel who were also named in the case, including journalist Ansar Abbasi and Jang Group owner Mir Shakeel-ur-Rehman.

    The contempt of court case is in accordance with the publication of an affidavit containing allegations that Saqib Nisar attempted to influence a case against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter, Maryam Nawaz, to bring Imran Khan into power.

    The IHC chief justice said the court had been disrespected and questioned whether anyone had any issue with the high court.

    Justice Minallah said the court could not give a license for anyone to disrespect it. “[It is] not even realised that there was an attempt to influence a case [that was being heard in court]. This court believes in open accountability and welcomes it. Has there been any order from July 2018 till now on which this perception [of judges being compromised] fits?”

    “The article is not related to Saqib Nisar but it has to do with this court. People have been told the judges of this court are compromised. A case was fixed for hearing two days later when the story was published,” Justice Minallah said.

    The chief justice addressed Judge Shamim and asked if he had heard any contempt cases himself during his tenure as a judge. Shamim responded in the negative, saying he had neither heard such cases nor believed in the concept of contempt.

    At this point, Justice Minallah gave Judge Shamim the opportunity to present the arguments made in his petitions. Shamim said that in the first petition he requested that a fact-finding inquiry be conducted into the case instead of framing the charges. In the other petition, he requested for the attorney general to be removed as the prosecutor.

    He also said it was important for the requirements of justice that former CJP Nisar’s reply was also made part of the inquiry and cross-examined. “This will not be a case of criminal contempt unless the facts stated in the affidavit are proven wrong,” he argued.

    The court proceeded to reject Shamim’s petitions and indicted him.

    Moreover, adjourning the indictment against the journalists, Justice Minallah said that if it was found during the trial that the news story was published deliberately, then action would be taken.

    After the arguments, Justice Minallah adjourned the proceedings till February 15 and asked Shamim to present his written response.

  • Committee summons ex-CJP Saqib Nisar to ask how Khan won the election

    Committee summons ex-CJP Saqib Nisar to ask how Khan won the election

    

    
    A requisition has been submitted to the National Assembly Secretariat for the meeting of the Standing Committee on Information of the National Assembly (NA).
    

    Former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar has been issued a notice to appear before the committee once again while the committee has also summoned ex-chief judge of Gilgit Baltistan Rana Shamim for the next meeting.
    

    Committee chairman Javed Latif also summoned former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), President Javed Hashmi, to the meeting and directed him to provide details of revelations regarding the removal of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif.
    
    

    The committee has sought details from Javed Hashmi about Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s statement paving the way for the PM post. Javed Hashmi has also been asked to provide details about Saqib Nisar’s role in this regard.
    
    

    Journalist Ansar Abbasi, analyst Hassan Nisar, and Chairman Pemra have also been summoned for the next meeting. The committee has also taken notice of Hassan Nisar’s statement to shoot the person who took the name of democracy.
    

    It may be recalled that earlier, the Information Committee of the National Assembly had summoned Saqib Nisar and Rana Shamim on December 29, 2021.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Contempt of court against Rana Shamim and journalists in affidavit case
    
			
    Contempt of court against Rana Shamim and journalists in affidavit case
    
			
    Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court (IHC), Athar Minallah has observed that former chief judge Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Rana Shamim and journalists appeared to have committed contempt of court.
    

    The journalists include editor-in-Chief of the Jang Media Group Mir Shakeel-ur-Rehman, and senior journalists Ansar Abbasi and Aamir Ghauri in connection with a news report about an affidavit that accused former Chief Justice (CJ) of Pakistan Saqib Nisar of trying to delay the release from prison of former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz.
    

    The court said the news report [in The News] was published without taking reasonable care.
    

    Additionally, the IHC also appointed Attorney General (AG) for Pakistan Khalid Javed as the prosecutor in the case, reports Dawn.
    

    Editor Aamer Ghauri and reporter Ansar Abbasi argued that they had published the news report in the public interest. In reply, the order stated that freedom of expression did not apply to the cases pending in the courts.
    

    “It appears that the reporter had not sought any legal advice regarding the status of a copy of a leaked document in the form of an affidavit,” said the order.
    

    However, Shamim and others have been asked to appear in court on January 7 for prosecution in the contempt of court case.
    

    

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Used’:Rana Shamim in trouble as court frame charges against ex-judge
    
			
    ‘Used’:Rana Shamim in trouble as court frame charges against ex-judge
    
			
    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday set January 7, 2022, as the date for framing charges against former Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Judge Rana Shamim and others in a case related to an affidavit that accuses former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar of colluding to deny bails to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership prior to the 2018 elections.
    

    During the hearing today, CJ IHC Athar Minallah observed that Shamim’s written response submitted to the court had “laid the entire blame” on journalist Ansar Abbasi [the journalist who published the story accusing CJP Nisar], recalling that the former jurist had also maintained that he had not shared the affidavit with anyone.
    

    He added that in similar circumstances, courts in the United Kingdom asked journalists to disclose their sources but the IHC would not do so.
    

    “The judge [mentioned in] the affidavit was on leave at the time. Attempts were also made to cast doubt on the two judges on the bench,” Justice Minallah said.
    

    Justice Minallah said the matter had “nothing to do” with the former CJP. “Go and do what you want to do with Mian Saqib Nisar,” he remarked.
    

    He recalled that proceedings had started because of an attempt to cast suspicion on judges of the high court. “[This] perception is being created which everyone has started believing as true,” Justice Minallah said.
    

    “Where was that perception when bail was granted two weeks later by this same court?” he questioned.
    

    Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Jawed Khan said that the concerned document was very important in contempt of court case. Shamim’s counsel, Lateef Afridi, responded that Shamim had said the affidavit was a “private document” and was written at his wife’s request.
    

    “By now, even Rana Shamim must have come to know how sensitive this issue is,” Justice Minallah remarked.
    

    “Contempt of court cases were initiated against Firdous Ashiq Awan in [the IHC] and Imran Khan in the Supreme Court. What happened in those cases? Such cases are initiated and the court has to show mercy,” Afridi responded.
    

    Afridi said Shamim “did not know about the affidavit’s consequences when he wrote it”. The judge reiterated his question about who the beneficiaries were to which Afridi again responded that he did know and requested the court to not waste time on the issue since there were other cases pending.
    

    The chief justice remarked, “What if Kulbhushan Jadhav (Indian spy) submitted an affidavit saying his case should not be heard by this court since it is compromised? This is a serious matter. Understand the consequences of this affidavit.”
    

    Meanwhile, journalist Ansar Abbasi said that he had talked to Shamim a day before the report was published. “Rana Shamim also [messaged] me that what I read out was correct,” the journalist said.
    

    Subsequently, the attorney general requested the court to indict Shamim and others. Terming Shamim responsible since he was the one who wrote the affidavit, the AG said the ex-judge had committed contempt of court.
    

    “Since the past three days, there are [reports] that the affidavit was written in someone’s office. It is surprising that no denial has come forth,” the AG said.
    

    Shamim’s counsel responded that the matter had been denied in a TV interview. However, the AGP argued that no denials were made by those related to the matter.
    

    “Rana Shamim should accept that he was used and apologise. If he does, then I too will [ask the court] to not take action. If he doesn’t apologise, then set a date quickly for indictment,” the AG requested the court.
    

    Subsequently, the court set January 7, 2022, as the date for framing charges.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Ex-GB judge Rana Shamim submits controversial affidavit against former CJP Saqib Nisar in IHC
    
			
    Ex-GB judge Rana Shamim submits controversial affidavit against former CJP Saqib Nisar in IHC
    
			
    Former Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Judge Rana Shamim on Monday submitted in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) his original affidavit accusing former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar of conspiring to deny bails to top Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership prior to the 2018 general elections.
    

    Chief Justice IHC Justice Athar Minallah had issued the order after going through the reply submitted by Justice Shamim in which he explained reasons for executing the statement on oath — dated November 10, 2021.
    

    During today’s hearing, Lateef Afridi, Shamim’s legal counsel, informed the court that the affidavit had been submitted to the IHC and the former judge has been “standing by his statement since the first day”, reports Dawn.
    

    “The real affidavit was sealed and has now been brought to Pakistan on the court’s order,” said Afridi.
    

    Justice Minallah said the sealed envelope was in its original condition and had not been opened by the court yet.
    

    “The attorney general had said the media’s role is secondary. Rana Shamim has admitted that the content published in the newspaper (The News report) is [the same as] in his affidavit. Rana Shamim has cast doubt on all judges of the IHC,” the chief justice said, adding that the court had already made it clear that it did not fear criticism.
    

    Justice Minallah then turned to Shamim’s counsel and asked him to open the envelope, upon which the counsel said that a new inquiry could be started by opening a sealed envelope.
    

    “This is an open inquiry. This is our accountability,” the judge said. He added that Shamim had apparently made “a very big statement without any evidence” and given an impression that all IHC judges were “compromised”.
    

    Afridi said his client maintained that he did not “leak” the affidavit.
    

    “Can a finger be pointed at any judge of this court? The court will not ask the journalist about the source of his news. This court is hearing many important cases related to fundamental rights,” Justice Minallah remarked.
    

    The judge called for evidence to be presented regarding the public opinion that was being built, saying the public’s trust in the court should not be eroded.
    

    “This court will not deviate from the law,” Justice Minallah remarked. He added that the next hearing would be held on Thursday. However, Afridi said he would not be able to attend the hearing on that date.
    

    Subsequently, Afridi requested the court to adjourn the hearing until after winter vacations were over. However, Justice Minallah observed that the IHC had not issued any notification about vacations.
    

    The hearing was adjourned till December 28.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    ‘Shaan-e-Pakistan’, Justice Rana Shamim’s son announces the formation of own political party
    
			
    ‘Shaan-e-Pakistan’, Justice Rana Shamim’s son announces the formation of own political party
    
			
    Advocate Ahmed Hasan Rana, son of former chief judge Gilgit Baltistan Rana Shamim, has announced the formation of his own political party.
    

    In a video shared by journalist Murtaza Ali Shah, Ahmed can be seen saying, “This [party] is only on WhatsApp right now, we have not officially registered it. Like-minded people, my friends from my school, college, and the university have got together to form this [political] party.”
    

    “Its name is Shaan-e-Pakistan, but there is some time required to launch it. We need funds. We are trying to establish it on our own, and trying our best to generate funds on our own. [We don’t want that we get stuck] like Imran Khan sahib,” said Ahmed.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Talking about his strategy in running his political party, Ahmed said that he idolises the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He said he will not bring a different political manifesto than the prime minister.
    

    “There should be a Madina ki riyasat, education should be free, there should be ease of doing business. One really needs to do things and not just talk,” said Ahmed.
    

    “Imran Khan has been trying but could not deliver from the past three years. All he says is ghabrana nahi hai [don’t worry]. He has failed to make a single policy,” added Ahmed.
    

    When asked how differently will Ahmed perform than the premier he said, ” I am a lawyer and we are told to make a policy first, implementation comes second.”
    

    “Khan sahib is doing the same as his predecessors Benazir and Nawaz, he is asking for another chance. I can do better than Khan sahib, I am certain of it,” said Ahmed.
    

    Ahmed was still drinking his famous “juice” while conversing about his future political plans.
    

    

    


    

    

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Islamabad Chief Justice says no need to investigate audio recordings if evidence is not brought to court
    
			
    Islamabad Chief Justice says no need to investigate audio recordings if evidence is not brought to court
    
			
     The Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court (IHC), Athar Minallah on Wednesday remarked that why the court should investigate a case when the concerned appellants didn’t bring any audio before the bench, reports The News. 
    

    The court was hearing the inquiry commission to probe into the alleged video of former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar.
    

    The Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Javed said the petition has been filed under Article 199-C of the Constitution.
    

    “Why are people choosing only one prime minister and coming to court as their proxy? Thousands of people were sacked. No video in their respect came. It is a proxy war. Today everyone is saying he has two videos and he has four videos. This is the season of harassing and pressurising judges,” said AGP.
    

    “Sometimes an audio, sometimes some concocted affidavit is released,” the attorney general said, referring to an affidavit by former Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Judge Rana Shamim in which he accused ex-CJP Nisar of colluding to deny bails to Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz before general elections 2018.
    

    “If a facility is given to one PM, then why was it not given to Bhutto,” asked the AGP.
    

    Salahud Din Ahmed, president SHCBA, said the AGP was holding bar associations responsible for every case. “See the statements given by Prime Minister Imran Khan against the judiciary and judges. It is now being said to either do accountability of the last 70 years or not at all to divert attention.”
    

    The petitioner argued that the judiciary was being made controversial through different tactics and the court could stop this practice by probing the allegations against judges. At this, the attorney general responded that all matters of the past could be sent to parliament. “One appeal against conviction in the Avenfield Reference is being heard in this court. That one appeal has perplexed the entire judiciary,” Khalid Javed added.
    

    While acknowledging that those whose cases would be affected by the alleged audiotape had not approached the court, Ahmed said his stance was that courts were being made controversial. The judiciary could stop that from happening by ordering an inquiry, he added.
    

    The IHC chief justice observed that any audio or video could be constructed in today’s age of advanced technology. “Anybody can make audio and ask for an investigation. The court remarked if we declare the petition seeking an investigation into audio maintainable, then what will be the impact on the pending appeals?”
    

    Justice Minallah noted, however, that the matter of the affidavit was different because the person concerned — Rana Shamim — had himself approached the court. “You’re unsure yourself about the [authenticity of] the audiotape you’re mentioning. A commission can be formed when there are grounds. The people who have cases [which could be affected by it] have not brought the audiotape to the court. Why should we [take action]? Is there anyone to take ownership of the audiotape?” he questioned.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    AGP asks Rana Shamim to arrange delivery of his ‘original affidavit’ to Pak High Commission in London
    
			
    AGP asks Rana Shamim to arrange delivery of his ‘original affidavit’ to Pak High Commission in London
    
			
    Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Jawed Khan asked Rana Shamim, the former chief judge of Gilgit-Baltistan, to arrange the delivery of his ‘original affidavit’ to the Pakistan High Commission in London, reports Dawn.
    

    The AGP asked Shamim to arrange the delivery of his affidavit “at the earliest” so that it could be forwarded to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) registrar through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
    

    The High Court had observed that in case the original affidavit was not produced on the due date, it would raise an assumption of its non-existence.
    

    The AGP forwarded a copy of his letter to Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary and the country’s High Commissioner in London.
    

    Meanwhile, United Kingdom (UK) oath commissioner Charles Guthrie, who authenticated the affidavit of Shamim, has claimed the affidavit’s authenticity, and also said that he was ready to appear before at any legal forum, including the IHC, for confirmation.