Ex-CJ GB claims in signed affidavit: ‘Saqib Nisar directed not to release Nawaz, Maryam before 2018 elections’

[ejaz007]

Ex-CJ GB claims in signed affidavit: ‘Saqib Nisar directed not to release Nawaz, Maryam before 2018 elections’
According to the document, Shamim’s statement was given under oath before the Oath Commissioner on November 10, 2021.

By Ansar Abbasi
November 15, 2021

ISLAMABAD: Former chief judge of the apex court of Gilgit Baltistan Rana M Shamim has stated in a notarized 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.

“Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz Sharif must remain in jail until the general elections are over. On assurances from the other side, he (Saqib Nisar) became calm and happily demanded another cup of tea,” this is what is said in the affidavit of the former top judge of GB talking about the then top judge of Pakistan.
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 NIC card. The notary public stamped the affidavit and recorded that it was “sworn under oath Before me” on Nov 10, 2021.
Both Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz were convicted by an accountability court in a graft case before the July 25, 2018 general elections. Their lawyers had moved court for suspension of the conviction but the case after initial hearings was postponed till last week of July.
When approached on Sunday, Rana Shamim initially confirmed the content of the affidavit read to him on a WhatsApp call by this correspondent. Then he said that he could not hear this scribe clearly. He was called back immediately but his WhatsApp was found turned off. He also did not pick up regular calls, repeatedly made to him. Later, his mobile phone was also found tur
ned off. After a break of a few hours, the former top judge of GB sent a mobile message to this correspondent from another number confirming the content of the statement.
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.
Except for the editing of the name of the high court judge, the following is the content of Shamim’s statement on oath:
“I Justice Dr Rana Muhammad Shamim, former Chief Judge, Supreme Appellate Court of Gilgit Balistan (31 August 2015 to 30 Aug 2018) do hereby make the following statement under oath: -
1. In July 2018 while I was serving as the Chief Judge of the Supreme Appellate Court of Gilgit Baltistan, Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, the then Chief Justice of Pakistan, came to Gilgit for vacations along with 27 family members and stayed in the guest house of the court.
2. That one evening when I, my late wife, the Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar and his wife were taking tea in the lawn, I found the Chief Justice of Pakistan to be very disturbed and continuously talking on the phone to his registrar, directing him to go to the residence of Justice ------ of ------ and request him to immediately call him (the CJP).
3. That in case his call does not get through, then convey to him on his (Mian Saqib Nisar’s) behalf that Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz Sharif must not be released on bail before the general elections at any cost.
4. That shortly afterwards he also spoke to Justice ------ directly and told him that Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz Sharif must remain in jail until the general elections are over. On assurance from the other side he became calm and happily demanded another cup of tea.
5. I, as his colleague and host, requested him to spend his vacations with his family in Gilgit Baltistan and then asked him why he conveyed such a message to Justice ----- and for what. He said, “Rana Sahib you will never understand. You must treat it as if you never heard anything.” I told him in the presence of my late wife and his wife that Mian Nawaz Sharif has been falsely implicated and his sentence and that of Maryam Nawaz were both managed as was evident from his phone calls. He was initially disturbed to hear that but then relaxed again and said, “Rana Sahib the chemistry of Punjab is different from Gilgit Baltistan.”
6. That whatever is stated voluntarily herein above constitutes the complete truth.”

Ex-CJ GB makes bombshell revelations about ex-CJP Saqib Nisar in signed affidavit

ISLAMABAD: Former chief judge of the apex court of Gilgit Baltistan Rana M Shamim has stated in a notarized affidavit that he was a witness to the then CJP Saqib Nisar’s direction to a high...

www.thenews.com.pk

 

[PradoTLC]

They should remain in jail … period

 

[khail007]

Another conspiracy theory. Just check the timing of this planted story. Rana M Shamim - too late the hero from London. IMO this will blowback - lies and deceits never prevails - IN-SHAA-ALLAH.

 

[ghazi52]

Another conspiracy theory. Just check the timing of this planted story. Rana M Shamim - too late the hero from London. IMO this will blowback - lies and deceits never prevails - IN-SHAA-ALLAH.

Insha'Allah.

 

[Verve]

Justice ------ of ------

That shortly afterwards he also spoke to Justice ------

Best part if that the Justice whose name the newspaper omitted wasn't even on the bench hearing the case back then .. so why would J Nisar call a judge who is not even on the bench hearing the case ...

but he is the judge hearing the appeals on 17 of this month - and breaking this current bench is why this fake accusation has been released.

 

[PakSword]

Best part if that the Justice whose name the newspaper omitted wasn't even on the bench hearing the case back then .. so why would J Nisar call a judge who is not even on the bench hearing the case ...

but he is the judge hearing the appeals on 17 of this month - and breaking this current bench is why this fake accusation has been released.

The affidavit has been notarized by the same lawyer in London, who happens to be Mian Saab's notary for his fraudulent docs.

There is no end to the lies and deception of this dajjali family.

It's a kind of azab on our nation.

 

[newb3e]

so Faujis ladla is coming back and become their puppet again and rule Pakistan!!

crazy one day they are labeled indian agents next day i am sure after power and importantly loot ka maal sharing agreement (lion share going to daddy) with faujis they are allowed to return and win election!!

bik gaye hain ya dha wallay!

 

[Jungibaaz]

so Faujis ladla is coming back and become their puppet again and rule Pakistan!!

crazy one day they are labeled indian agents next day i am sure after power and importantly loot ka maal sharing agreement (lion share going to daddy) with faujis they are allowed to return and win election!!

bik gaye hain ya dha wallay!

Fauji ladla is already in power and might become their ex, the other ex 90s Fauji ladla is abroad and planning a return, a wanna be Fauji ladla from the South is attempting to usurp one or both.

 

[newb3e]

Fauji ladla is already in power and might become their ex, the other ex 90s Fauji ladla is abroad and planning a return, a wanna be Fauji ladla from the South is attempting to usurp one or both.

faujis and their ladlas all jokers!!

whats the criteria!! legalize land grabbing and award thaikay to fwo! and you become PM of Pakistan!

 

[PradoTLC]

Yup it is a fake story as nawj appeal to stay in UK has been revoked …

An affidavit has no legal value till there cross questioning in court of law

 

[ghazi52]

Ex-GB chief judge Rana Shamim has 'direct relations' with Nawaz, served as his lawyer: son


Dawn.com
November 16, 2021

This screengrab shows Ahmed Hassan Rana, a Supreme Court advocate, who is the lawyer and son of former chief judge of Gilgit-Baltistan Rana Mohammad Shamim Ahmed Khan.

Former chief judge of Gilgit-Baltistan Rana Mohammad Shamim, who has accused former chief justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar of judicial interference in the corruption references against PML-N leaders Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, has had long-standing relations with the PML-N supremo and his party in the capacity of an officer-bearer as well as lawyer, it emerged on Tuesday.

According to Supreme Court advocate Ahmed Hassan Rana, the son as well as lawyer of the former GB top judge, his father has remained "in direct touch" with Nawaz and even met the PML-N supremo in England before the pandemic.

Speaking on Geo News programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath, Rana acknowledged that Justice Shamim had also served as the vice-president of PML-N Sindh in the past and was Nawaz's lawyer in the Memogate scandal case.

Rana's appearances on the media come on the same day as the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issuing show-cause notices to The News journalist Ansar Abbasi, former judge Shamim and two others.
The court had taken notice on Monday of a report published in The News by Abbasi, which quoted Justice Shamim as saying in an affidavit that he witnessed ex-CJP Nasir relaying instructions to a high court judge three years ago to not release Nawaz and Maryam in the corruption references against them ahead of the 2018 general elections.

The report, which was hailed by the PML-N as vindication, has been refuted by Justice Nisar. Justice Shamim was not present due to health reasons for today's proceedings presided over by the IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah and was represented by his son in court.

During his appearance on Khanzada's show, Advocate Rana, while refusing to answer any questions on his father's behalf, said he himself was serving as the Punjab assistant advocate general at the time of Nawaz's arrest in 2018 and also met the PML-N leader in jail.

He said his father had last met Nawaz while visiting the UK before the coronavirus pandemic struck.
"[Shamim] has remained [Nawaz's] lawyer so the two have relations. They have direct relations," Rana said.

During the live programme, Rana appeared to take Justice Shamim live on a call to ask him about his meeting with Nawaz, but told Khanzada that his father had responded with "no comments".

However, he read out a text from Shamim in which the former judge stated that he had not released the affidavit in question to any journalist, and that it may have been "leaked" from the office of the notary public in London who attested the document.

While answering a question, Rana said his father would appear before the IHC on November 26, when the next hearing of the matter will be held.

'Have not seen the affidavit'

Appearing on ARY News show Off the Record, Advocate Rana told anchor Kashif Abbasi that he was not aware that his father would make the statement about Nisar while visiting London — where the affidavit in question was notarised — adding that he had not seen the actual affidavit, and only saw pictures of it.

"I was made aware of this for the first time by [journalist] Matiullah Jan yesterday," he added.
When asked why was it notarised in London, Rana said "no comments".

Rana said a "special" Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) should be constituted to resolve the matter because it involved the former chief justices of Pakistan as well as GB, but declined to answer why Justice Shamim did not submit his affidavit to the top legal body.

Regarding the timing of the affidavit, Rana said he was not aware of the details and had yet to discuss this with his father as his lawyer.

Reacting to Rana's comments, PML-N leader Musaddik Malik on the ARY show said he found them to be "interesting and funny". He declined to comment on the loopholes in the matter, saying Rana had to answer for himself in the IHC.

But when seen in the "larger context", he said, ex-IHC judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui and former accountability judge Arshad Malik too had pointed to similar issues (regarding judicial interference).

Earlier in the day, during the IHC hearing, Justice Minallah had pointed out that if another judge spoke like this [as Justice Nisar in the affidavit] in front of him, he would have gotten in touch with the SJC.

"A person witnesses the CJP asking someone to commit a crime. The person stays silent for three years and an affidavit concerning the incident surfaces. How can a newspaper publish such a document?" he had asked.

 

[khail007]

The PATWAR family/group is a bunch of shameless and cursed people. Just imagine, how they are preparing the plots/conspiracies to malign institutes of Pakistan to save their behinds. This family should be hanged by their tongues.

 

[ghazi52]

IHC issues show-cause notice to Ansar Abbasi, others over report alleging judicial interference by ex-CJP


Tahir Naseer
November 16, 2021

A combination photo of former chief justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar (L), former chief judge of Gilgit-Baltistan Rana Mohammad Shamim Ahmed Khan (C) and journalist Ansar Abbasi (R). — DawnNews/DawnNewsTV/Ansar Abbasi Twitter

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday issued show-cause notices to senior journalist Ansar Abbasi, former chief judge of Gilgit-Baltistan Rana Mohammad Shamim Ahmed Khan and two others over an investigative report published in The News that highlighted an accusation against former chief justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar of colluding to deny bails to top PML-N leadership before general elections 2018.

The court also directed the respondents to submit their replies within seven days and adjourned the hearing for November 26. The others include The News editor-in-chief Mir Shakilur Rehman and the newspaper's editor Amir Ghauri.

A day earlier, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, under the Contempt of Court Ordinance, took notice of the report, which claimed that in 2018 Nisar influenced judicial proceedings to prolong the detention of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz following their conviction in the Avenfield apartments reference. The allegations were made by Rana Shamim.

Shamim was not present for today's proceedings presided over by IHC CJ. During the hearing,
Shamim's son told the court that the ex-judge had reached Islamabad the night before and was feeling unwell. He also asked permission to play a video in the court and to bring a laptop into the courtroom. However, the request was denied.

At the outset of the hearing, the IHC CJ said that it was necessary to restore people's faith in the judiciary.

"There is a difference between social media and traditional media," he noted, adding that a newspaper followed a set editorial policy while social media did not.

Addressing Rehman, Justice Minallah said that a former judge was issued a notice by the court due to a story carried in the newspaper he publishes.

The IHC CJ said that he had full confidence in his judges. "This case would not exist if I did not have confidence in them. Every judge in this court has maintained the public's faith."

He said that judges were also accountable and noted that it was a citizen's right to criticise them.


Justice Minallah grills Abbasi

He also questioned whether a newspaper's editorial policy allowed it to publish a story on its front page which cited an affidavit that was filed in London, and directed Abbasi to read the headline of the story out loud.

The story in question was titled "Ex-CJ GB claims in signed affidavit: ‘Saqib Nisar directed not to release Nawaz, Maryam before 2018 elections'".

"This affidavit is not a part of any court record. Where was this notarised?" Justice Minallah asked, adding that this concerned the credibility of the higher courts.

It is pertinent to mention here that the affidavit in question was notarised by Charles D. Guthrie, a London-based solicitor. A day earlier, when reached for comment, Guthrie told Dawn.com he cannot comment on the document.

On July 6, 2018, an accountability court had sentenced Nawaz, Maryam and son-in-law Mohammad Safdar to 10 years, seven years and 1 year imprisonment, respectively, after finding them guilty in the Avenfield properties reference. They were later arrested upon their arrival in Lahore from London on July 13.

The verdict had come days before the 2018 general elections held on July 25, later that month. Subsequently, all three had appealed the verdict, with the IHC suspending their sentences and ordering their release on September 19, 2018 until the final judgement.

Nawaz was later sentenced to seven years jail time in another case — Al-Azizia Steel Mills/Hill Metal Establishment reference — on December 24, 2018. The former premier spent almost 11 months in prison, before being allowed to travel to London for medical reasons for four weeks. He has not returned since.

Meanwhile, coming down hard on the senior journalist, the IHC CJ questioned whether he had checked the date of the court's order against Maryam and Nawaz. "You are an expert at investigating, did you investigate yourself?"

He also asked Abbasi whether he had checked who was part of the bench hearing the cases against the PML-N leaders, adding that he and Justice Aamer Farooq were abroad when the appeal was filed and the case was fixed for hearing.

"Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Miangul Hassan were present in the country at the time. Did you inquire about this from the high court registrar?"

He observed that noted lawyers were part of the case against the PML-N leaders. "Did you ask them if they had requested for a date before the general elections?"

He said that Khawaja Haris was the petitioner at the time. "Did you check with him about the bench hearing the case?"

He remarked that "scandals" were being perpetuated to ruin people's trust in the country's institutions.

"If another judge spoke like this in front of me I would get in touch with the Supreme Judicial Council," he said.

"A person witnesses the CJP asking someone to commit a crime. The person stays silent for three years and an affidavit concerning the incident surfaces. How can a newspaper publish such a document?" he asked.

When Abbasi requested for permission to speak in court, the IHC CJ replied "you have already caused enough damage".

"I was the one who gave the story, you can take action against me," the senior journalist said, adding that he had done so in an effort to protect the sanctity of the court.

"A former GB judge is levelling an allegation against a former CJP. Take action against me but also carry out an investigation," Abbasi said.

During the hearing, Shamim's lawyer also asked the IHC CJ whether the court would take notice of the statements made by Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda. According to news reports, the minister had stated that the former judge should be hanged and flogged in public for levelling the allegations against Nisar.

However, the court refused to include it in the case and told Shamim's lawyer to file a separate appeal.


PML-N cries foul

After the story was published, the PML-N had cried fouled and termed it another "vindication" for Maryam and Nawaz.

PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif said that the "explosive" news report was yet another vindication for Nawaz and Maryam in the "court of public opinion". The report peeled off a "thick layer of a grand scheme employed to target" the PML-N chief and his daughter, he said.

Speaking alongside other PML-N leader, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also demanded that a suo motu notice be taken of the matter and questioned: "If Mian Nawaz Sharif can go to jail, why can't Mian Saqib Nisar?"

"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 remarked at the press conference.

However, the government dismissed the opposition's claims and Information minister Fawad Chaudhry said that instead of "fabricating silly stories and conspiracy theories", Nawaz should tell the people about the source of the money used to purchase the Avenfield Apartments.

 

[ghazi52]

'If Nawaz can go to jail, why can't Saqib Nisar?': Abbasi seeks suo motu on denial of bail to Maryam, Nawaz


Dawn.com
November 15, 2021

PML-N leader Shahid Khaqab Abbasi addresses a press conference in on Monday. — DawnNewsTV

Reacting to a report about the alleged involvement of former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar in denying bail to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz ahead of the 2018 general elections, PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi demanded that a suo motu notice be taken of the matter and questioned: "If Mian Nawaz Sharif can go to jail, why can't Mian Saqib Nisar?"

He posed the question during a press conference alongside other PML-N leaders, saying the Supreme Court should take suo motu notice of the matter now that fingers had been pointed at a former top judge in the report.

His comments came after an investigative report, published in The News by journalist Ansar Abbasi, quoted the former top judge of Gilgit-Baltistan, Rana Shamim, as saying in an alleged affidavit that he had witnessed Nasir relaying instructions to a high court judge to not release the father-daughter duo in the corruption references against them.

While Nisar has denied the allegations, dismissing them as "absolutely untrue", PML-leaders have called for individuals involved in the matter to be brought to justice.

"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 remarked at the press conference.

Sharing the contents of the alleged affidavit, he said Shamim had divulged details under oath about Nisar instructing his registrar to contact an Islamabad High Court judge and ensure that Nawaz and Maryam were not granted bail before the 2018 elections.

"He (Shamim) has not given this statement under any pressure and when he was asked about this on camera, he confirmed that he had given this statement under oath," Abbasi noted.

Saying that it was important to inform the people of Pakistan about the background of the matter, the PML-N leader alleged that the "Supreme Court had acted like a trial court" in the past and disqualified Nawaz over a matter pertaining to his iqama (work permit of the United Arab Emirates). Consequently, "the federal government was toppled" and Nawaz was later sidelined from politics, he added.

Then, he recalled, a reference was filed over Panama Papers leaks against the PML-N supremo and later, the SC appointed a monitoring judge for the matter, which was an unprecedented occurrence in Pakistan's history.

"There was no mention of Maryam or Nawaz in the case, but when the latter was abroad [to tend] to his ailing wife, he was convicted by a NAB court," he said, adding that Nawaz returned to Pakistan thereafter and was taken to jail along with his daughter.

"On July 16, 2018, he filed an appeal [for bail] and on July 17, the appeal was listed. The same day, [former] CJP Saqib Nisar went to Gilgit-Baltistan," he continued, adding that all this had been shared by Shamim under oath.

Now, he said, just three people knew the truth — Shamim, Nisar and the IHC judge who was allegedly asked not to grant bail to Maryam and Nawaz.

But it was also the right of the people of Pakistan to know the truth, he stressed.

"This is not just about maintaining the conviction by the former CJP, it is about meddling in the affairs of elections," Abbasi said, adding: "Don't we have the right to ask when these trends [of intervention] will end?

For how long will we play with people's lives and the future of Pakistan for small gains and our false ego?"

Saying that he wished that Nisar was actually not involved in the matter, Abbasi asked: "When a CJP commits such an act, who are we to approach [for justice]?"

He went on to say that numerous other such "unconstitutional interventions" had been pointed out in the country's judicial system.

"A [former] chief justice has been involved in the matter. A sitting high court judge has been named in the matter. Should I consider this a routine occurrence [and] shouldn't this matter be taken to the parliament? Shouldn't parliament question who is responsible for this matter?" he questioned.

The PML-N leader further said, "We will have to trust Shamim's statement as it was given under oath. But our question is which forum will determine what the truth is? Is there anyone to take notice of this matter?"

He added that the report also showed how Prime Minister Imran Imran had come to power, and that it was now the need of the hour to go into the depth of the matter of "the CJP interfering in election affairs".

Abbasi said it was incidents such as these that were the root cause of inflation and the myriad of difficulties being faced by people. "When constitutional institutions exceed their ambits, inflation will increase," he remarked.

PML-N to raise matter in parliament

Replying to a question, PML-N leader Khawaja Asif said that at present, questions were being raised on the country's institutions.

"The constitutional structure of Pakistan has collapsed," he said. "Whatever happened in the July 2018 elections is now being exposed gradually."

He announced that the PML-N would raise the matter in the parliament and consult lawyers regarding it.

'Judiciary attacked'

In a press talk later in the day, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry took exception to the press conference held by Abbasi and Asif, saying the IHC should also summon the two leaders for holding a presser despite the court taking a suo motu notice of the matter.

He said it was the PML-N's history to scandalise and attack courts, adding that the story carried by The News should have undergone an editorial check.

Accompanying him, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill alleged it was the ninth "fake story" planted by the PML-N.

"I can show the stories along with the names of PML-N's pundits in media houses, most of which later bounced," he said.

Separately, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib said that the country's judiciary was being attacked.

"There is no doubt that the PML-N is behind it," he alleged, saying the party had a history of launching such attacks on anyone who took independent decisions.

 

[ghazi52]

What did Ex-CJ GB Rana Shamim do in London and the United States