IHC: Contempt of Court hearing, Rigorous Situation for Rana Shamim and Ansar Abbasi

The contempt of court case against former Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Justice Rana Shamim, Mir Shakeel-ur-Rehman, Ansar Abbasi and Amir Ghauri will be heard again today. The hearing will be conducted by Chief Justice of IHC Athar Minallah.

Attorney General Khalid Javed Khan and Advocate General Islamabad Niazullah Niazi will appear during the hearing. Former Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Justice Rana Shamim will appear in court today, while Jang Group owner Mir Shakeel-ur-Rehman will not appear in the contempt case today due to some unavoidable reasons.

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Former Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Justice Rana Shamim will appear in the court along with his lawyer Latif Afridi. Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah will hear the case at 11 am. Despite the court order, Rana Shamim did not file his lawyer’s power of attorney, reply and controversial statement in the affidavit High Court.

Analysts say it remains to be seen whether the affidavit that was published by senior journalist Ansar Abbasi in The News or something else comes to light. If the same affidavit comes to light, then journalist Ansar Abbasi and warlord Mir Shakeel-ur-Rehman will be spared, otherwise they may be charged with contempt of court. Analysts say today’s hearing is important for Rana Muhammad Shamim and journalist Ansar Abbasi.

Summary of last hearing

It may be recalled that during the last hearing, former Chief Justice of Gilgit-Baltistan Rana Muhammad Shamim, on the inquiry of Chief Justice Athar Minallah of the Islamabad High Court, said that he did not remember his affidavit orally.

Chief Justice Athar Minallah had also questioned Justice (retd) Rana Shamim that he had submitted his reply in the court regarding the affidavit. Who have you nominated as your lawyer? In reply, Rana Shamim said that he has appointed Latif Afridi as his lawyer.

Chief Justice Athar Minallah then inquired whether he had confirmed to the journalist that the affidavit belonged to him. Rana Shamim said that after the news was published in G, he had confirmed that the affidavit was mine. However, I did not give the affidavit to the journalist. I do not know how my affidavit was leaked.

Chief Justice Athar Minallah had remarked that for what purpose did you prepare the affidavit? Rana Shamim Sahib, this is a very serious matter. Your confidence in the court has been shaken by your affidavit. This court has decided to hear this case for the confidence of the people. This is a very serious matter.

In response to a question from Justice Athar Minallah, Rana Muhammad Shamim said that he did not have an affidavit and he would have to get it from UK. On this, the Chief Justice said that Rana Sahib should deliver the document to the embassy in London and the government would take it to the court. The court later ordered Rana Shamim to file the original affidavit and adjourned the hearing till December 7.