ISLAMABAD: Former Gilgit Baltistan chief judge retired Justice Rana Muhammad Shamim levelled “scandalous allegations” against the institution of the judiciary, a five-page charge sheet issued Saturday by Islamabad High Court (IHC) in the contempt case said.
IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah framed charges against Shamim in the case on January 20.
The charge sheet said the former judge’s affidavit contains “scandalous allegations, casting serious aspersion against the judiciary including IHC which tends to bring the court into hatred, ridicule and contempt and tends to prejudice the determination of a matter pending before the court and fixed for hearing on 17.11.2021.”
“Rana Muhammad Shamim, not only confirmed to Mr. Ansar Abbasi, [The News] journalist [who broke the story], the execution and signing of the above mentioned affidavit dated 10.11.2021 but intentionally chose not to desist him from publishing the same despite your claim in Court that it was a private document.”
“Neither did you initiate any proceedings against Mr. Ansar Abbasi or the notary public for breach of privacy, and counsel client privilege, which conduct shows your intent to publicly ridicule and bring into hatred the Court and the judge of the Court besides undermining and obstruct the course of justice and to prejudice fair trail,” the chief justice said.
He said Shamim was “fully aware of the serious consequences of the alleged incident, yet your conscience remained in deep slumber for over three years and suddenly awakened only to execute the scandalous affidavit and confirm it before publication, at the time when the appeals of the persons mentioned in the document were being heard, which conduct tends to undermine the dignity of the court, bring the administration of justice into disrespect and divert the course of justice.”
“By your conduct, you intend to interfere with, obstruct and prejudice the process of law and due course of pending judicial proceedings, thus you have committed the contempt of this Court within the meaning of Article 204(2) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan read with section 3 of the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003 (Ordinance V of 2003) punishable under section 5 of the said Ordinance, which is cognizable by this Court. I, therefore, direct that you be tried by this Court on the above-said charge.”
