ISLAMABAD: Former Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) chief judge Rana Muhammad Shamim has completely disowned his affidavit and tendered unconditional apology in Islamabad High Court (IHC) in contempt of court plea.
Rana Shamim submitted an unconditional apology in an affidavit submitted in response to the contempt of court proceedings initiated against him following publication of his earlier affidavit.
Earlier in the week, ex GB Chief Judge had partially backtracked from the contents of his affidavit, stating that not a single sitting judge of the IHC was involved in the controversy and submitted an unconditional apology to the high court. He had however stood by his allegations against former CJP Nisar.
The new affidavit states that Rana Shamim tenders unconditional apology for an affidavit which was neither correct nor required.
Rana, in his fresh apology, solemnly affirmed: “I tender an unconditional apology for an affidavit which was neither correct nor required.”
He maintained that during his more than 30 years of professional life he has always respected both the bar and the bench and could never imagine intentionally scandalising or showing contempt to any judge.
“I regret rather apologize for an incorrect affidavit where the name of an honourable judge was mistakenly and unintentionally mentioned.”
Expressing his regret over the “grave mistake”, the judge said it should never have happened.
“The wrong and incorrect mention of a judge of this honourable court in the affidavit dated 10th Nov 2021 was due to my glaring misunderstanding and unintentional mistake,” said Shamim.
Withdrawing from the contents of the affidavit, the former judge said, “I profusely apologize for the wrong and unnecessary affidavit.”
“I place myself at the mercy of this honourable court,” he added.
Contempt charges against Shamim:
On January 20, the IHC formally indicted Rana Shamim in the case pertaining to the publication of his alleged affidavit.
Rana Shamim, however, submitted an unconditional written apology to the IHC in the contempt of court case filed against him.
Shamim stated that he was under extreme mental stress and was a “serious heart patient” aged 72 when he wrote down his affidavit “after approximately three long years” since the meeting that he mentioned above.
Shamim’s affidavit:
Shamim had stated in a notarised affidavit that he was a witness to the then CJP Saqib Nisar’s direction to a high court judge not to release Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz on bail at any cost before the 2018 general elections.
According to the document, Shamim’s statement was given under oath before the Oath Commissioner on November 10, 2021.
The affidavit, duly notarized, contains the signature of the ex-CJ of Gilgit Baltistan as well as an image of his CNIC card. The notary public stamped the affidavit and recorded that it was “sworn under oath Before me” on Nov 10, 2021.
However, former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar when approached categorically denied that he had ever directed any of his subordinate judges in connection with any judicial order whether it pertained to Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz or anyone else.
