Lawmaker asserts judge’s video is authentic

PTI, however, says Maryam Nawaz released clip to malign state institutions

LAHORE: A senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker claimed to have a forensic test of the controversial video in which a an accountability court judge reportedly stated that there was no evidence of corruption against deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif. He claimed that these tests can prove the video’s authenticity.

The judge also reportedly stated in the video that he was “blackmailed” into awarding a decision against Nawaz.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the PML-N lawmaker told The Express Tribune that he had requested a forensic test of the video from abroad to verify its authenticity and that he has no doubts. “We have not taken this video from a street-based forensic examiner, but from one of the best laboratories abroad.”

He said, “The PML-N is not a party of inexperienced people who don’t even know the right time or the place to show its cards.” He added that the video was only run after work was done to verify its authenticity.

He welcomed all quarters, including the government, to conduct a forensic test on the controversial video clip for their own satisfaction.

Responding to a question asked on the validity of a government-conducted forensic test, he said that he will not accept the results of a report ordered by the government because there’s no guarantee that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will not pressurise the forensics team.

He argued that if a judge could be pressurised then, there is no assurance that the government’s forensics team will not be pressured to release a report in PTI’s favour. He further said that PML-N will ponder over the mechanism under which this matter is sent to forensics by the judiciary if it the judiciary takes action over the judge’s video.

Meanwhile, PTI Lawmaker Musarrat Jamshed Cheema demanded that the federal government order a forensic test of the controversial video.

She put her demand forward through a resolution submitted in the Punjab Assembly. The MPA contended that holding a press conference over a forged video clip is a desperate attempt by PML-N to regain popularity. She claimed that PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz hatched a conspiracy against state institutions through a forged clip.

She added that PTI strongly condemns PML-N’s conduct under which the judiciary was attacked.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2019.