IHC has requested testimony from former chief judge Rana Shamim in the contempt of court case.
ISLAMABAD: Rana Shamim, a former chief judge of Gilgit-Baltistan, on Monday delivered a written apology to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in response to a complaint of contempt of court brought against him.
The aforementioned case is associated with the disclosure of an affidavit that contained significant charges against the former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Saqib Nisar, who was accused of attempting to sway the prosecution of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz.
In a sworn affidavit in London, claims made against the former CJP were officially brought against Shamim by the IHC.
The former GB CJ’s attorney, Abdul Latif, gave the court a written apologies in which it was claimed that Shamim had discussed the ex-CJ Nisar’s opinions with him over tea.
In the apology, Shamim stated, “[…] I had heard the words’senior puisne judge’ time and again from the [former] CJP during the gathering at the tea on the lawn.”
IHC requested testimony from Shamim.
The IHC gave the former chief justice of GB one further chance to provide testimony in the matter by Monday on September 8.
It was alleged, according to Chief Justice Athar Minallah, that the IHC justices may be compromised by releasing the affidavit. He asserted that his comments may affect the right to a fair trial because the pertinent appeals were still ongoing at the IHC.
IHC CJ stated that no action would be taken against former judge Shamim if he could demonstrate the veracity of his allegations. Therefore, Rana Shamim talked of offering an unreserved apologies. The case was then postponed until September 12.
“Victim of a miscommunication”
Shamim indicated that when he prepared his affidavit “after nearly three long years” following the encounter that he detailed above, he was 72 years old, suffering from severe mental stress, and a “serious heart patient.”
Shamim said that this is what caused him to “fall victim to a misunderstanding” and mistakenly write “senior puisne judge” in the affidavit instead of Justice Aamir.
He said that he now “truly regrets the severe error” that he unintentionally did and that he is asking for an unqualified apologies.
Shamim added that since the contempt case’s legal processes began, he has expressed sorrow and apologised for any confusion on his behalf.
He remarked, “I cannot even imagine scandalising the same institution I have served so devotedly and professionally.
The apology concluded, “I tender an unconditional apology to all sitting judges of this honourable court for the grave misunderstanding and mistake on my part and place myself at the mercy of this […] court with humble request to graciously forgive me. I reiterate that no sitting judge of this honourable court is involved in the controversy mentioned above.
