Pakistan

Arshad Malik's Al-Azizia verdict against Nawaz must be set aside: PML-N

Judge's removal means judiciary has admitted the reality of the matter: Maryam Nawaz

News Desk July 12, 2019

PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz PHOTO: FILE

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has demanded that accountability court judge Arshad Malik's verdict against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif must be set aside.

The party's top leadership, including Shehbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz Sharif, raised the demand immediately after news reports confirmed that the IHC has requested the law ministry to remove Malik from his accountability court post.

Leaked video: IHC approaches law ministry for judge Arshad Malik's removal

In her message in Urdu on Twitter, Nawaz’s daughter and PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz said, "Removing the judge from his position clearly means that the honourable superior judiciary has admitted the reality of the situation. If that is the case, then how can that judge's decision still be valid?"

“If the judge who gave the verdict has been punished, then why is the innocent Nawaz Sharif not being released?”

Maryam said simply removing Malik from his post was not enough and that the sentence against Nawaz must be set aside. “This decision against Nawaz must be expunged from court records since it was given [by Judge Arshad Malik] gave under pressure.”

Maryam unveils more videos to ‘vindicate’ claim

In his statement, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif said Nawaz Sharif's incarceration was now illegal and called for the immediate release of the three-time former premier.

“After the removal of the accountability court judge by the IHC, it is now illegal to keep Nawaz Sharif in prison even for a minute. This has proved that the video and our assertions were true. There is now no justification to keep Nawaz behind bars.”

Party spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said the IHC decision against Malik automatically nullifies his verdict in the Al-Azizia reference.

"This is an admission that what Maryam Nawaz brought out into the open is true and factual. This is an admission that the video is real and that the judge was pressures into convicting Nawaz."