Plea filed in IHC against former GB judge Rana Shamim

ISLAMABAD: A petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking recovery of salaries received by former judge Rana Mohammad Shamim for issuing a controversial affidavit.

Former Chief Justice of the Gilgit Baltistan Appellant COurt, Rana Shamim, stirred controversy after claiming that former chief justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar had pressured a judge to delay granting bail to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz bafore the 2018 general elections.

Chaudhry Mohammad Akram, a former vice president of the Islamabad Bar Association, in his petition cited Rana Shamim and the secretaries of law and justice and interior as respondents. IHC Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri will take up the petition on Monday (tomorrow).

According to the petition, the former chief judge’s affidavit was a violation of Article 5 of the Constitution that requires every citizen to be loyal with the state and obedient to the constitution. The petition contended that Rana Shamim has attempted to scandalise the judiciary which is a pillar of state.

The petition requests the court to proceed against Rana Shamim and direct the federal government to place his name on Exit Control List. It dsaid that since Rana Shamim has violated his oath of office, he should be stopped from using the title of former chief judge and should be disqualified from holding any public office in future. The petition also seeks recovery of salaries drawn by Rana Shamim as chief judge of Gilgit-Baltistan.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah has already initiated contempt proceedings against Rana Shamim, Editor-in-Chief of Jang Group Mir Shakeelur Rehman, Editor Investigation Ansar Abbasi and Resident Editor Aamir Ghouri. During the hearing, the court noted that the alleged contemnors has tried to undermine public confidence in impartiality and independence of the IHC and its judges.

The court issued show-cause notices to journalist Ansar Abbasi, editor Amir Ghauri, media owner Mir Shail-ur-Rehman and asked them to submit a reply within seven days. The court also issued a notice for judge Rana Shahmim before proroguing the hearing till November 26 and ordering all respondents to appear before the court.