IHC Affidavit hearing, convincing the court is a big challenge for Rana Shamim
Political analysts said, this is a very important issue the credibility of our entire judicial system is at stake.
IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah will hear the affidavit of former Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Justice Rana Shamim today. The IHC affidavit hearing will take place in the context of contempt of court content.
The Islamabad High Court in its November 16 hearing had issued show cause notices to Justice (retd) Rana Shamim, journalist Ansar Abbasi, owner of The News Mir Shakeel-ur-Rehman and editor of the newspaper Amir Ghauri and adjourned the hearing till November 30.
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It should be noted that Mir Shakeel-ur-Rehman, owner of The News, Amir Ghauri and journalist Ansar Abbasi have already submitted their replies while Rana Shamim has not submitted his reply till the end of time given by the court.
Statements of Rana Ahmed Hassan, son of Rana Shamim
It may be recalled that Rana Shamim’s son Rana Ahmed Hassan had admitted in an interview to ARY anchor person Kashif Abbasi that “his father former Justice Rana Shamim has been a lawyer of PML-N Lawyers Forum in Sindh.”
The host repeatedly asked why Rana Shamim had been hiding such an important issue for three years to which Rana Ahmed had no answer. He said that only father could give the answer.
On the other hand, Shahzeb Khanzada had also talked to Rana Ahmed Hassan on Geo News. He asked, “Are you representing your father, former Justice Rana Shamim, in this case? Did you meet him?”
Rana Ahmed Hassan replied that no, so far I have not met my father. He said that his father had met Nawaz Sharif in London two years ago and they were friends.
Rana Ahmed said that when Nawaz Sharif was in jail, I was the Advocate General of Punjab and I used to visit him in jail.
The position of analysts
Political analysts say that this is a very important issue on which the credibility of our entire judicial system is at stake. Former Chief Justice of Gilgit-Baltistan Rana Shamim himself has yet to present much evidence in defense of his allegations.
Analysts say the case is being heard in the Islamabad High Court today. It remains to be seen whether Rana Shamim will appear in person. And if they do appear, what are their answers in defense of their affidavit? Because the last time his sons appeared in court, they were sneezing.
Analysts further said that the court had taken suo moto on Rana Shamim’s affidavit and issued a show cause notice seeking a reply but no reply has been submitted so far. On the other hand, many questions will be raised in the court, but satisfying the court will be a difficult step for Rana Shamim. Expected questions may be: “Why did he give the affidavit in London? Why did he come up with the affidavit three years later, why didn’t he appear at the first hearing. And so on and so forth.”
Summary of previous hearing
During the hearing of Rana Shamim’s affidavit case in the Islamabad High Court on November 16, Justice Athar Minallah said that freedom of expression was necessary but the provision of justice was also important. He said that it was a matter of great concern if the people did not have confidence in the judiciary.
Mir Shakeel-ur-Rehman, Editor-in-Chief of The News, was asked if he would take an affidavit and print it on the front page of the newspaper. Mir Shakeel-ur-Rehman remained silent on this.
Chief Justice Athar Minallah questioned the journalist Ansar Abbasi as to why he did not seek the assistance of the Registrar High Court before publishing the affidavit. The court said the affidavit was not part of the judicial record.
