AC judge Arshad Malik barred over video scandal until further investigation: Farogh Naseem
A person will serve upto 10 years in jail if he tries to threaten or pressurize a judge, said Farogh
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Minister for Law Dr Farogh Naseem on Friday said that senior judge Arshad Malik was barred from accountability court until further investigation on scandal over blackmail claims relating to the jailing of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on corruption charges.
Addressing to a press conference, Farogh Naseem expressed that no one is allowed to pressurize the courts. He said that Justice Arshad Malik defended himself saying he gave an unbiased verdict as Nawaz Sharif was also acquitted in one of the two cases and he would have held him accountable in both the cases if he was pressurized.
Farogh went on to say that there is a punishment for pressurizing the judges during hearings and, law and justice will prevail by not allowing it to happen. "A person will serve up to 10 years in jail if he tries to threaten or pressurize a judge", he added.
Federal Minister for Law and Justice Barrister Farogh Naseem said that any video leak or affidavit could not quash the verdict of National Accountability Court against Sharif Family until convicted persons provide money trail to the court of law.
After days of growing pressure, Islamabad High Court (IHC) asked the law ministry to remove Arshad Malik from his position.
“Judge Arshad Malik was asked to stop working on the basis of the alleged video and the press release,” Law Minister Farogh Naseem told a news conference.
The minister expressed this in a press conference following the letter of Acting Chief Justice Islamabad, Justice Aamir Farooq written to the Ministry of Law and Justice, asking the Accountability Court Judge Arshad Malik to hand over his services to the parent department.
He informed that after receiving the letter of IHC, the law division directed judge Arshad Malik to stop working as judge till further orders of concerned quarters.
Law Minister Arshad Malik expressed in his affidavit said he gave the verdict without any pressure or fear. He said punishments exist for efforts to bribe or threaten judges, as per Radio Pakistan reported.
Speaking on the occasion with Special Assistant Shahzad Akbar, he said Panama case is a saga that starts on greed and ends on corruption.
Responding to a question, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar said Judge Arshad Malik was given offer of ten billion rupees as bribe. He said he was threatened by Sharif family through its right hand Nasir Butt if he does not obey their orders.
He further said that it is high time to expose all involved elements in this video scandal.
Justice Arshad Malik said that the opposition is threatening him by showing a 16-year-old video.
The removal of accountability court judge Arshad Malik prompted immediate calls by Sharif’s PML-N party for the release of the 69-year-old former premier, who is serving a seven-year jail sentence.
“The decision against Nawaz Sharif should be dismissed and he should be released immediately,” party spokeswoman Marriyum Aurangzeb said, adding that Sharif’s conviction should be considered “void”.
Sharif was convicted and jailed last year after failing to prove the source of income that had led to his ownership of a steel mill in Saudi Arabia.
The PML-N has disputed the conviction and last week party leaders presented a video apparently showing Malik saying he had been pressured into ruling in favor of conviction by individuals with compromising footage against him.
Affidavit submitted by AC judge Arshad Malik
Following the video controversy surrounding the trial of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Judge of Accountability Court Arshad Malik has submitted an affidavit in the Islamabad High Court today (Friday).
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.
