Accused in judge video scandal case gets bail

Tariq Mehmood was languishing in Adiala Jail for the last 10 months, IHC told

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday granted bail to Tariq Mehmood, who has been accused of blackmailing Judge Arshad Malik through an “indecent video”, against surety bonds worth Rs100,000.

An IHC bench, headed by Chief Justice Athar Minallah, heard the video scandal case against former Islamabad accountability court judge Arshad Malik, who had convicted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Al Azizia corruption reference and sentenced him to seven years in prison.

During the proceedings, the Federal Investigation Agency investigation officer apprised the court that the judge's “indecent video” was real, based on which the judge was blackmailed.

Chief Justice Minallah asked, “Where is the proof of blackmailing. If the video is real, the judge is also guilty.”

Malik Ahmed Nawaz and Asif Advocate appeared before the court on behalf of the accused.

Justice Amir Farooq, the other member of the bench, asked who was involved in the blackmailing. “Is there undeniable evidence that Mehmood blackmailed the judge?”

The FIA prosecutor replied that Arshad Malik's employees had testified that Mehmood blackmailed the judge by using the “indecent video”.

Chief Justice Minallah inquired about the judge being blackmailed.

“What did Arshad Malik say in his statement? How was he blackmailed? And how long has this man [Tariq Mehmood] been in prison?

The investigation officer apprised the court that Mehmood was in Adiala Jail for 10 months.

Justice Amir Farooq asked where is the evidence, which proves that the accused blackmailed the judge. “There is no such thing in your report. You have to present proof during trial. Present evidence before the court. It seems that you don't have undeniable evidence? Did you watch the video?”

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The investigation officer replied that he had seen the video. “The judge was in an indecent state when his video was recorded.”

The chief justice remarked, “The judge is also guilty in this. The FIA forensic report and the statement of the judge reveals that the video is real.”

Minallah asked, “What is the evidence against Mian Tariq?”

Deputy Attorney General Tayyab Shah apprised the bench that there are statements of witnesses in this regard.

CJ Minallah remarked, “You have nothing but statements.”

Justice Amir Farooq asked “On what basis will you convict the accused?”

After hearing the arguments, the court granted bail to the accused.