ISLAMABAD
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) postponed framing of charges in a contempt of court case against former Gilgit-Baltistan chief justice Rana Shamim, Jang Group owner Mir Shakeelur Rehman and senior journalists Ansar Abbasi and Aamir Ghauri as the hearing of the case adjourned till January 20.
The IHC had in the last hearing decided to indict the former GB chief judge and others in a contempt of court case in connection with a news report about an affidavit that accused former chief justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar of trying to delay the release from prison ex-PM Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz.
During the proceeding, Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Javed Khan appeared before the court and said that from the first day of the hearing he was of the view that Rana Shamim was the main accused in this case.
“The case of three journalists is secondary. Ansar Abbasi or Amir Ghauri’s organisation was spreading a narrative,” said the AGP, adding that the affidavit was issued for a special purpose which is not even before the court.
“Today, Abbasi and Ghauri said that if the affidavit had been in the form of a statement, they would not have published it and that the impression of their organisation spreading a narrative should end,” said Khan. The AGP suggested postponing the proceedings against the media personnel and providing a fair trial to Rana Shamim and framing the charge against him.
IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked that the “narrative” is that Saqib Nisar talked to a judge about a case. “Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb and I were part of the bench. Are you trying to say that someone tried to interfere in our ruling? Won’t the common man say that judges got influenced after reading the affidavit?” he questioned Abbasi.
“A narrative was made that the Islamabad High Court was following someone’s instructions because two days after the date mentioned in the news published, appeals were being heard,” Justice Minallah said.
The journalist argued that he did not write the name of the court or any judge in his news story. Judicial assistant Faisal Siddiqui appeared before the court and said that as far as journalists were concerned, he would oppose framing a charge against them.
To this, the IHC CJ said the publisher of the newspaper should say that what was written in the affidavit was not his responsibility. “In a pending case in the UK, the reporter had reported, but the reporter and the editor both had been convicted for this,” the judge said. “Ansar, there is no doubt about your credibility, but you do not realise the effect of your mistake,” he added.
Rana Shamim’s lawyer Abdul Latif Afridi said that he has known Abbasi for a long time and he has only conveyed “the truth to the public”. Maybe this incident occurred due to his lack of knowledge on the subject, the counsel prayed.
The chief justice said that the “narrative” is that benches were made by someone else. “If such is the case then an inquiry should be initiated against those who were sitting in the benches. I have been saying from the first day that no one can have access to a judge,” the IHC chief justice remarked.
“In a pending case in the UK, the reporter had reported, the reporter and the editor had been convicted for this,” the judge said. “Ansar, there is no doubt about your reputation, but you do not feel guilty,” he added. Minallah said “acceptance of mistakes in front of the court increases honour.”
He also rejected Jawed Khan’s request to allow Rehman — who tested positive for coronavirus — to attend court proceedings via video link and said he would need to be present in court for the indictment.
Subsequently, the IHC adjourned the hearing due to Mir Shakeel-ur-Rehman’s absence as he is currently under quarantine due to Covid-19.
