Contempt Case: Court indicts Ex-CJ of GB Rana Shamim

• News By : Web Desk
• 2022-01-20 08:01:31

ISLAMABAD: 20, JANUARY, 2022: Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday indicted ex-CJ of Gilgit Baltistan Rana Shamim in contempt of court case.
During the proceedings, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah postponed indictment proceedings against the journalists and rejected the petition to separate Attorney General from the case.
Former CJ of GB appealed the court to order indiscriminate inquiry into his affidavit at which, the court remarked that serious allegations were leveled in the document.
Athar Minallah asked the former CJ, you tell us if anyone is facing any problem with this court, Athar Minallah asked the former CJ, adding that this court believes in open accountability.
Earlier in the day, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah directed Rana Shamim to come to the rostrum over which, the ex-judge said that he had filed two new petitions.
In response, the IHC CJ told, "We will first indict you then hear your pleas. The court had already given the orders to indict you [Rana Shamim] today."
The former GB CJ told that his lawyers were on their way to the court over which, the IHC adjourned the hearing for a short time period.
Meanwhile, the court rejected the appeals to stop character assassination of Rana Shamim and disqualify Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders.
The IHC also turned down the intra-court pleas of Rana Shamim’s daughter-in-law and grandchildren.
On January 7, Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday postponed indictment of the former chief judge of Gilgit Baltistan Justice (retd) Rana Shamim and others in contempt of court case.
During the proceeding, Chief Justice of the IHC Justice Athar Minallah, remarked owing to the absence of Mir Shakil ur Rahman, the indictment is being deferred until the next proceeding of the case on January 20.
The judge rejected a plea from the counsel representing Mir Shakil ur Rahman to allow his client to appear through video link, and said the indictment would be made in the presence of all those accused of contempt of court.
Earlier, on December 28, 2021, IHC had directed to indict Gilgit Baltistan's former Chief Judge Rana Shamim on January 7, 2022 in contempt of court case.
During the hearing, IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah had summoned all the parties for arguments.
The IHC CJ remarked that "it's not contempt of court matter but a case of court's accountability.
It was being spread that this court has reached a compromise." "The judiciary is presenting itself for accountability," he added.
Meanwhile, the court had ordered to resealed the affidavit envelop which was opened by Rana Shamim.
"The affidavit has nothing to do with ex-CJP Saqib Nisar. it's only an attempt to make IHC controversial," IHC CJ stated.
Earlier, on December 20, the Islamabad High Court planned to open the sealed affidavit of ex-chief justice of Gilgit-Baltistan, Rana Shamim on the next hearing of the case.
According to sources, IHC CJ Justice Athar Minallah heard the contempt case against the ex-CJ of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Advocate General Islamabad, Ansar Abbasi, Aamir Ghauri, Rana Shamim along his lawyer Latif Afridi appeared before the court.
The sealed envelope carrying the affidavit of Rana Shamim was presented before the IHC CJ Justice Athar Minallah.
The top judge said that "we will open the sealed envelope at the next hearing as AGP Khalid Jawed did not appear before the court owing to his health issues."
The IHC CJ said former GB CJ, Rana Shamim raised fingers at the judges of his court and added that IHC is not worried about the criticism. Lawyer of Rana Shamim to satisfy the court with his arguments and the CJ remarked that the case would be taken back after satisfaction, the IHC asked.
Later, the court has adjourned the hearing until December 28.
Last week, a sealed affidavit envelop of former CJ Gilgit Baltistan has been received at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) through a courier from London, where it was kept in a locker.
As per judiciary sources, the courier carrying the sealed affidavit was received by the registrar of the Islamabad High Court, who placed another seal on it to secure it.
On December 13, IHC had postponed the decision on indictment of ex-Chief Judge of Gilgit Baltistan Rana Shamim in contempt of court case and again sought original affidavit of him.
During the proceedings, the IHC remarked that the parties are free to record their response on former CJ Rana Shamim's statement.
The ex-Chief Justice of GB had deliberately leaked his affidavit, adding that the proceedings regarding indicting him can be resumed after submission of original affidavit, the attorney general.
Earlier, on December 7, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had directed former chief justice of Gilgit-Baltistan Rana Shamim to submit his original affidavit till December 13 (Monday).
As per sources, IHC had conducted a hearing on a contempt of court case against former Gilgit Baltistan (GB) Chief Judge Rana Shamim.
During the hearing, the IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah asked the ex-CJ Rana Shamim about his reply over which he told that he had already submitted his response on the show cause notice.
The court ordered Rana Shamim to submit his original affidavit till December 13 and warned the ex-judge that charges would be framed against him in the next hearing on December 13 if the original affidavit was not produced before the court on that date. (04)

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