IHC directs ex-CJ Shamim to submit affidavit by March 7

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday granted an adjournment petition in the contempt of court case against the former chief justice of Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court Rana Shamim, directing him to submit the affidavit in his defence by March 7.

The court also ordered him to provide a copy of the affidavit to Attorney General for Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan.

The contempt case came in the wake of a news report published in a local newspaper last year, which highlighted Shamim’s affidavit in which he accused the former chief justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar of instructing a high court judge to keep Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz incarcerated until the 2018 general elections.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the contempt case. Former CJ Shamim appeared in court.

An application for adjournment was filed by his lawyer Abdul Latif Afridi.

Addressing the attorney general, the former CJ requested adjournment due to the illness of his lawyer.

"We pray for his recovery," the attorney general said.

The attorney general read out the order of the last hearing and requested that Shamim be directed to submit the affidavit and also get a list of witnesses in his defence.

“The case will move forward once the affidavit and list of witnesses are submitted at the next hearing.”

When Hamid Khan Advocate appeared on behalf of the editor-in-chief of a national daily, Chief Justice Minallah said that the matter to his extent has been postponed.

“He doesn't have to come yet.”

Attorney General Khalid said that since he had been issued a show-cause notice, “the case is still pending”.

“His attendance is required but if he applies for an exemption from attendance, there will be no objection.”

Further hearing was adjourned until March 7.

It is pertinent to mention that former chief justice Shamim has pleaded not guilty in the case.