IHC indicts GB Ex-judge Rana Shamim in contempt case

ISLAMABAD, January 20: The Islamabad High Court has indicted the former chief judge of Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court Rana Shamim in the high profile contempt of court case. However, Rana Shamim denied charges against him. He pleaded not guilty. He said he could not believe in the concept of contempt of court. He asked the court if he put an affidavit in his pocket, then would he be liable to the contempt! The court, however, deferred arraignment of other contemnors in the case including journalist Ansar Abbasi. IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah while rejecting Rana Shamim’s request indicted him. He said that the court had already been scandalized wondering if there was some problem with the court. He said that the narrative was being made while putting focus on the IHC. And the narrative clearly stated that the judge of the court was compromised, he added. “The court cannot give licence to any petitioner to disgrace it and sit silently and let people’s trust in it vanish,” Justice Minallah remarked. The judge further said that the court believed in public accountability. If there is no accountability, then there will be no improvement, he added. While framing charges on Rana Shamim, the court said that he went to England to record his affidavit. – NNI