News Desk |
The Supreme Court observed on Tuesday that it was strange that no one from Sharif family has approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to seek any relief for the incarcerated prime minister Nawaz Sharif after the video leaks scandal.
“Why no one from the Sharif family had approached the high court to seek relief for the deposed premier from his conviction,” a three-member bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, Justice Sheikh Azmat and Justice Umar Ata Bandial observed.
The remarks came during the hearing of petitions seeking probe in the leaked video case involving accountability court judge Arshad Malik.
“It is strange that those [PML-N] interested in the release of Nawaz have not yet approached the IHC because that is the only real forum to get relief,” the chief justice remarked.
NAB had filed the references before the accountability court on the directives of the Supreme Court and an apex court judge Justice Ijazul Ahsan had supervised the trial proceedings.
He further said that the leaked-video scandal along with the alleged misconduct of the accountability court judge will not go unattended. “However, we are not in a hurry. we don’t want a prejudiced trial,” he added.
“The high court, too, has the authority to probe the matter,” CJP Khosa said, adding that the IHC can launch an investigation through an appellant forum or through its constitutional authority under Article 203 wherein it supervises affairs of the accountability court.
Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Anwar Mansoor Khan, while deliberating the matter earlier, recommended that the SC should leave the matter at the discretion of the IHC.
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However, another member of bench Justice Umar Ata Bandial said that they have to establish the truth. “We are looking for a remedy for those who are aggrieved. We want to protect the integrity of the institution. We are not just examining the allegations of complainant,” he added.
No Relief Until IHC Rules in Sharif’s Favor: SC
Following the AGP’s arguments, CJP has linked any relief for ex-PM Sharif with a ruling in his favor by IHC. The top judge of Pakistan has remarked that the Supreme Court can provide no relief to ex-PM unless the IHC rules in his favor.
IHC will resume hearing of Sharif’s appeal against his conviction in the Al-Azizia reference on Sept 18. The IHC’s registrar office has fixed Sharif’s appeal along with another appeal filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against his acquittal in the Flagship Investment reference.
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Accountability judge Mohammad Arshad Malik, who was recently removed from his position over video leaks, had authored verdicts in both cases on Dec 24, 2018.
NAB had filed the references before the accountability court on the directives of the Supreme Court and an apex court judge Justice Ijazul Ahsan had supervised the trial proceedings.