Video Scandal: IHC CJ suspends Judge Arshad Malik

The IHC chief justice ordered Arshad Malik to report to his parent department of the LHC.

 

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday suspended accountability court judge Arshad Malik in case pertaining to video scandal and ordered him to report at Lahore High Court (LHC).

 

According to a notification issued on Thursday by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, the affidavit submitted by judge Arshad Malik reveals misconduct which needs to be investigated, therefore, the IHC chief justice has issued orders to place Judge Malik under suspension with immediate effect.

The notification further ordered Arshad Malik to report to his parent department of the Lahore High Court so that departmental level action should be initiated against him.

On July 12, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) decided to remove accountability judge, Justice Arshad Malik, from his post over the matter of scandalous videotapes.

The court’s spokesman had said that acting chief justice of IHC Justice Amir Farooq had written a letter to law ministry, seeking to withdraw services of Arshad Malik.

Islamabad High Court had also directed to put together affidavit of judge Arshad Malik and bail pleas of ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Al-Azizia reference.

Earlier, judge Arshad Malik had rejected all the allegations leveled by Maryam Nawaz regarding victimizing ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif in fake corruption cases.

The judge had released a statement and termed the leaked video played by PML-N leaders during their press conference fake, fabricated and out of context.

He said that he was not pressurized by anyone to deliver verdict against Nawaz Sharif in Al-Azizia reference and that the decision was announced while fulfilling all the requirements of justice. I should have not acquitted Nawaz Sharif in one case and sentenced him in another case if I was under pressure, he asserted.

Arshad Malik told that he had old relation with Nasir Butt, the person shown talking to him in the alleged video, and his brother Abdullah Butt who used to often meet me.

He revealed that PML-N leaders offered him bribe when he was hearing National Accountability Bureau (NAB) references against Sharif family. The PML-N representatives also threatened me with dire consequences if I rejected to fulfill their "demands", he claimed.

NAB court judge said, "I had then left my case to Almighty and chosen to stick to the truth." PML-N conducted press conference to make my decisions controversial so that they can gain political benefits, he stated.

Arshad Malik further demanded the authorities to take legal action against those involved in this conspiracy.

Maryam Nawaz’s press conference

Earlier on July 6, PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz said we have solid evidences that ex-premier Nawaz was victimized by the courts in fake corruption cases.

While talking to a presser along with PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif and senior leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, she said that three times prime minister was put in jail at the age of 70 by a trial court. She said that corruption allegations were made on Nawaz Sharif but no proves were shown, adding that everyone knows this is not accountability but victimization.

Maryam Nawaz also unveiled a video clip whereby accountability judge Arshad Malik could be heard saying that there was “no proof of corruption against the deposed premier” in the December 24 Al-Azizia reference.

She said the judge had contacted Nasir Butt and told him that he was feeling guilty and having nightmares ever since he announced the verdict that led to Nawaz Sharif’s imprisonment.

The PML-N leader claimed that the accountability judge was coerced into delivering the Al-Azizia verdict against him [Nawaz]. She further demanded acquittal of Nawaz Sharif on the basis of evidences shown in video, adding that she respects every institution of Pakistan.

At the end of the press conference, she said that she has much bigger proof than this.

NAB cases against Nawaz Sharif

In December 2018, an accountability court sentenced former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to seven-year rigorous imprisonment after it found him guilty in Al-Azizia reference, one of the three graft cases filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in line with the apex court order.

The Supreme Court on July 28, 2017, disqualified Nawaz in Panama Papers case and ordered NAB to file separate cases which were respectively called Avenfiled, Al-Azizia and Flagship references.

Judge Muhammad Arshad Malik had acquitted Sharif in Flagship reference while the former premier and his family members were already convicted in Avenfield case.