LAHORE: Former premier and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Monday demanded that a suo motu notice be taken on a report about the alleged involvement of former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar in denying bail to Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz.
“The Supreme Court should take notice of the matter now that fingers had been pointed at a former chief justice of Pakistan in the report,” Khaqan Abbasi said while addressing a press conference in alongside other leaders in Lahore.
In an investigative report, published in The News, journalist Ansar Abbasi quoted former top judge of Gilgit-Baltistan, Rana Shamim, as saying that he had witnessed Nasir relaying instructions to a high court judge to not release the father-daughter duo in the corruption references till general elections 2018.
“If Rana Shamim is lying, he should be given stringent punishment, but if he is speaking the truth, then justice Saqib Nisar’s place is in jail,” Abbasi said. He added Shamim had divulged details under oath about Nisar instructing his registrar to contact an IHC judge and ensure that Nawaz and Maryam were not granted bail.
Abbasi continued, “Three people, including Rana Shamin and Saqib Nisar, are aware of the facts, but the people of Pakistan should also know the truth. If someone meddles with elections, so don’t we hold the right to question them?”
He said when the country’s chief justice could be involved in such practices, then how could justice be delivered in the country. Meanwhile, Khawaja Asif said PML-N would raise Shamim’s allegations in the Parliament, as he had recorded his statement “without any coercion”.
Nisar says report ‘contrary to facts’
Reacting to The News report, former chief justice Justice (retired) Saqib Nisar said the report is “contrary to the facts”, adding that he would not respond to the “white lies” levelled against him by ex-GB chief justice Rana Shamim.
Nisar levelled allegations against Shamim, accusing him of asking for an extension as the chief justice of Gilgit-Baltistan. Nisar added that he had denied him the extension.
“At one point in time, Rana Shamim also complained to me about not getting the extension,” he said. “It is not wise to respond to every lie,” he added.
