Unverified tape an absurd attempt to gain sympathy: Firdous

Govt to conduct forensic audit of Judge Arshad Malik's purported video clip; Firdous questions credibility of...

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Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Saturday called into question the credibility of the video clip of an accountability court judge making startling revelations about Al-Azizia case verdict as she announced that forensic audit of the clip would be conducted.

“Credibility of the tape would be determined after forensic analysis. We will not hide anything from the nation, but the whole nation does know about Justice (retd) Qayyum's tape scandal," said Dr Firdous at a press conference on Saturday.

Her response came minutes after PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz, flanked by the senior party leadership, released a video clip in which Islamabad Accountability Court-II Judge Arshad Malik could be heard saying that there was “no proof of corruption against the deposed premier [Nawaz Sharif]” in Al-Azizia reference, and that he was blackmailed into giving a verdict against Nawaz.

Judge admitted Nawaz not guilty in Al-Azizia reference, claims PML-N

The accountability court judge on December 24, 2018 found Nawaz Sharif guilty in the said reference and sentenced him to seven-year imprisonment.

"Our government has never forced judges to flee from their chambers whereas the PML-N has a history of always exercising undue influence over courts.  Prime Minister Imran Khan and the government have strengthened the courts. The government does not have influence over them,” Dr Firdous added.

She said it is necessary that the one who levels an allegation must be honest and credible.

“The tape has been provided to the PML-N by Nasir Butt, who is an infamous murderer and gang leader who fled to the UK after killing five people and remained an absconder for 20 years.  Butt worked as a security guard for Nawaz Sharif in the UK and his cases were closed when the PML-N came into power.”

Dr Firdous said Maryam Nawaz has made an absurd attempt to gain public sympathy through the tape. She said during the PML-N press conference, the PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif looked like a gambler who has lost everything.

“It seemed that a coup has occurred in the PML-N and the niece [Maryam] has cornered her uncle [Shehbaz]. Head of the gang, responsible for leaking, engineering and marketing of the tape, is in jail whereas his remnants are sitting in shape of Maryam Safdar with a tape.

“It is a failed attempt to bolster the PML-N with the help of a tape,” she said. Dr Firdous said it also was a violation of law to record private conversation of any judge.

The de-facto information minister argued that those who attacked Supreme Court in the past in a bid to obstruct justice are now speaking about supremacy of law. “The judiciary is independent and no one could influence its decisions,” the special assistant said.