SC to hear judge’s video leak scandal on July 16

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – A three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa will hear Judge Arshad Malik’s video leak scandal on July 16. PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif, vice-president Maryam Nawaz and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi have been made the party in the petition filed by Ishtiaq Mirza.

Judge Arshad Malik stopped from working on IHC orders: Shahzad

Earlier on Friday, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar said that the Law Ministry has stopped Judge Arshad Malik from working on the orders of the Lahore High Court. Addressing a press conference along with Law Minister Farogh Naseem, he said that the services of Judge Arshad Malik are being returned to the Lahore High Court. “The decision to bar him from working has been made on the basis of his alleged video and press release issued by him.” Special Assistant Shahzad Akbar said that Judge Arshad Malik had stated in the affidavit that he was pressurized, but he gave free and fair verdict. “A person influencing the court may get punishment up to 10 years. The affidavit will not affect the merit of the case,” he said. He said that the sentence of a person declared a convict by court cannot be suspended.

Was blackmailed, offered bribe to favour Nawaz: Judge Arshad

In an affidavit submitted to the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Accountability Judge Arshad Malik claimed that he was blackmailed and offered bribes to favor Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia Reference Case. In his written statement, Judge Arshad Malik – who has been removed after the ‘video leak’ scandal against him – also claimed that he was blackmailed by the Pakistan Muslim League N (PML-N) through and old video tape of him which had secretly been filmed in Multan 16 years ago. The affidavit read that the tape was used to blackmail me over and over again and wanted favors for the accused PML-N quid. The affidavit describes a meeting of the judge with the deposed Prime Minister at his residence to which he was taken to by two men. Nawaz Sharif before being sentenced to jail in that meeting asked the judge to hold a dialogue with the two men who had brought him to nawaz Sharif residence, Jati Umra. “PML-N quid’s son Hussain Nawaz offered him bribes up to Rs 500 million and offered him residence as well as settlement in a foreign country of his chosen if he resigned on the base that he ashamed for verdict of Al-Azizia,” the affidavit unveiled.

I am turning to judiciary for justice, says Maryam Nawaz

PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz on Friday requested the judiciary to declare null and void the verdict against her father former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and to release him without any delays after removal of Accountability Court Judge Arshad Malik. In a series of posts shared on Twitter, Maryam said, “Now this matter is not restricted just to Nawaz Sharif. I am turning to the judiciary for justice. I will keep waiting.”  

اعلی عدلیہ سے مودبانہ گزارش کرتی ہوں کے فیصلے کو کلعدم قرار دیا جائے اور نواز شریف کو انصاف فراہم کرتے ہوئے کسی تاخیر کو بغیر رہا کیا جائے۔ اب یہ معاملہ نواز شریف تک محدود نہیں رہا۔ میں انصاف کے لیے اعلی عدلیہ کی طرف دیکھ رہی ہوں۔ منتظر رہوں گی۔ شکریہ https://t.co/royK8wuFIB

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) July 12, 2019

She called for the verdict against her father former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to be expunged following the Islamabad High Court's (IHC) decision to remove accountability judge Arshad Malik from his post.