Justice Farooq has told the IHC Registrar to make documents including Arshad Malik’s letter and affidavit part of pending appeals of Nawaz Sharif against Al- Azizia reference. 

ISLAMABAD: Accountability Court Judge Arshad Malik who is in his court’s chamber at the moment has, by means of a Press Released (typed in Urdu) rejected PML-N allegations that he gave verdict under pressure. 

Stating that the clip shown at PML-N Presser was forged and was an attempt to malign him and his family Accountability Court Judge Arshad Malik held: “This press conference was held merely to make my decisions controversial/disputable and to gain political advantages…The videos shown during the Press Conference are fake and based on lies and assumptions. Therefore, legal action should be taken against those individuals involved in this.”

Yesterday (on 6th of July 2019) Vice President of PML-N Maryam Nawaz at a Presser claimed that the Accountability Judge Arshad Malik had been blackmailed to give verdict against her father Nawaz Sharif in Al-Azizia reference.

Commenting on the video, Arshad Malik said that serious allegations were made against him and it was conspiracy to affect his credibility as well as that of his institution and his family and therefore he wanted to present the facts: “I am a resident of Rawalpindi where before becoming a judge, I worked as a lawyer. The individual shown in the video, Nasir Butt, is also from the same city and is an old acquaintance. Nasir Butt and his brother Abdullah Butt have met me many times at numerous instances.

“The video shown in Maryam Safdar sahiba’s press conference is not only contrary to the facts but it is also a despicable attempt to mesh together various instances and topics spoken about, and to present them out of context. Had I announced the verdict under pressure or over greed of bribes, I would not have acquitted him in one case and convicted him in the other.”

Maintaining that the objective of the Press Conference was to put pressure on the court of law, Accountability Judge Arshad Malik stated that the truth was contrary to what was claimed. Arshad Malik said that though he was warned of severe consequences he gave verdicts according to law: “…during the hearing of the cases against Nawaz Sharif and his family, I was repeatedly offered bribes by their representatives and also given threats of serious consequences if I did not cooperate…I decided to stay committed to the truth and left my life and wealth in the hands of  Allah. Had I announced the verdict under pressure or over greed of bribes, I would not have acquitted him in one case and convicted him in the other.

“While dispensing justice, I announced conviction of Nawaz Shairf on the basis of evidence in the Al-Azizia case and acquitted him in the Flagship case…I also want to make it clear that indirectly or directly, neither was there any pressure on me nor was there any greed…I made these decisions knowing Allah is omnipresent and on the basis of the law and the facts.”

It is pertinent to mention here that on 4th of December, 2018 he had acquitted Nawaz Sharif in Flag Staff Investments Case maintaining that there was no case against Nawaz while convicted him in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference. Accountability Court Judge Arshad Malik had handed Nawaz Sharif seven years of jail, fined Rs. 1.5 billion and US$ 25 million and barred him from holding any public office for a decade.

SUKKUR: Chairman PPP-P Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that Accountability Court Judge Arshad Malik should be given a chance to defend himself. 

He was speaking on the occasion of his visit to Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical  College Hospital. 

He maintained that PPP-P was the only political party that had always fought for the rights of the oppressed. He said for PPP minority too were equal to the majority. 

LAHORE:  Following the removal of Arshad Malik (judge who convicte deposed PM Nawaz Sharif),  Vice President of PML-N Maryam Nawaz  has taken to twitter to demand release of her father. 

Maintaining that removal of the judge meant that honorable High Court had accepted the facts, she asked if the judge who gave the verdict against Nawaz Sharif has been removed why Nawaz Sharif is not being released?

She requested the High Court to declare Al-Azizia verdict void and release Nawaz Sharif immediately.

Earlier today IHC’s acting  Aamer Farooq had directed the registrar office to write a letter to the law ministry recommending that Accountability Judge Arshad Malik be relieved of his post and repatriated to parent dept.
The decision to remove Arshad Malik has been made in light of  section 5A of the National Accountability Ordinance.
According to sources Arshad Malik had approached Justice Aamer Farooq by means of a correspondence and an affidavit claiming that the videos presented by PML-N VP Maryam Nawaz were fake.
It is pertinent to mention here that on 4th of December 2018 Arshad Malik had handed over seven years in jail to ousted PM Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference case.
On 6th of July, 2019 daughter of convicted Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz who happens to be the Vice President of PML-N, had presented a secretly made clip  at a Presser claiming that manifested that Arshad Malik was pressurized and blackmailed to give a verdict against her father.
On 7th of July, 2019 Arshad Malik had issued a Press Release saying that the video was fake and his said verdict was made sans any pressure or blackmailing.
In response Maryam Nawaz had presented more footage to substantiate her claim that Arshad Malik was forced to convict deposed PM Nawaz Sharif.
As soon as the IHC’s decision about removal of Arshad Malik was made public, Maryam Nawaz stated that her allegation regarding pressurizing the judge was thus proved and it should be made part of Nawaz Sharif’s appeal for acquittal.  Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif  has also called for the immediate release of  Nawaz Sharif saying that keeping him in jail even for a minute  would be illegal. A relevant piece published earlier.

LAHORE: PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz today has taken to the Twitter to release two more videos terming the clips as additional proof that Accountability Judge Arshad Malik was blackmailed to give verdict against her father Nawaz Sharif, the deposed prime minister, in Al-Azizia reference.

According to her the new clip (filmed by a bike rider) shows Accountability Judge’s official car, a white sedan bearing green registration plate appearing to fetch PML-N’s Nasir Butt who was driving a Land Cruiser. The two vehicles went to Arshad Malik’s house. However, watching the video it is not possible to figure out who were inside the vehicles.

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar on Sunday said Islamabad High Court should constitute a commission to probe the video presented by Maryam Nawaz in her press conference. 
Talking to a private news channel, he said the judge concerned had also demanded in his press release to investigate the matter.
Akbar said court was the proper forum for presenting the video, not the media.Replying to a question about forensic audit of the video, he said the government would decide about the forensic audit of the video.

KARACHI: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairperson PPP has expressed grave concern over the video clip presented by PML-N as ‘proof’ of their allegations that trial judge was blackmailed to give verdict against Nawaz Sharif. 

The statement holds: “Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has expressed grave concern on the allegations levied by the PML-N regarding blackmailing of a judge through an incriminating video to force him give a desired verdict in the case against former Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif…

“It is indeed a sad commentary on the health of Pakistani democracy that such accusations continue to be made so often and so repeatedly…If for some reasons the judiciary is not inclined to address such issues then the opposition parties must deliberate on it and formulate a united course of action,” PPP maintained in the statement. 

Earlier Vice  President PML-N Maryam Nawaz has claimed that deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif was convicted despite absence of any evidence against him and the Accountability Judge Arshad Malik who had convicted Nawaz Sharif was blackmailed (by means of a video) to give verdict against him.

She said this here today while presenting an audio/video featuring a conversation between the Accountability Judge Arshad Malik (who sentenced her father Nawaz to seven years in jail in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference) and a PML-N worker Nasir-Butt at a Presser flanked by Shehbaz Sharif (Leader of the Opposition in NA) and other PML-N heavyweights. 

In the secretly filmed video, accountability judge Arshad Malik could be heard stating that there was no proof of corruption against the deposed premier in the 24th December Al-Azizia reference.

She said this here today while presenting an audio/video featuring a conversation between the Accountability Judge Arshad Malik (who sentenced her father Nawaz to seven years in jail in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference) and a PML-N worker Nasir-Butt at a Presser flanked by Shehbaz Sharif (Leader of the Opposition in NA) and other PML-N heavyweights. 

In the secretly filmed video, accountability judge Arshad Malik could be heard stating that there was no proof of corruption against the deposed premier in the 24th December Al-Aziziareference.

It  is pertinent to mention here that Maryam Nawaz has admitted that Nasir Butt – who made the candid footage – was a PML-N follower. He recorded the clip  when he met Accountability Judge Arshad Malik.

According to Maryam Nawaz it was the Judge Arshad Malik himself who had contacted Nasir Butt to admit that he felt guilty due to the wrong verdict and asked him to meet him at his home where the secret video was recorded.  

Maryam Nawaz has alleged that the judge was shown a video and by means of that blackmailed to write the judgement against her father. According to her transcription of the audio in the video the judge says: “There is no evidence available to constitute that a single penny has been shifted from Pakistan by Nawaz. No evidence could be found regarding any embezzlement of funds in Pakistan or in Saudi Arabia.”

Nawaz Sharif was convicted sans any evidence: Maryam Nawaz presenting secret video clip of the judge

LAHORE: Vice  President PML-N Maryam Nawaz has claimed that deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif was convicted despite absence of any evidence against him and the Accountability Judge Arshad Malik who had convicted Nawaz Sharif was blackmailed (by means of a video) to give verdict against him.

She said this here today while presenting an audio/video featuring a conversation between the Accountability Judge Arshad Malik (who sentenced her father Nawaz to seven years in jail in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference) and a PML-N worker Nasir-Butt at a Presser flanked by Shehbaz Sharif (Leader of the Opposition in NA) and other PML-N heavyweights. 

In the secretly filmed video, accountability judge Arshad Malik could be heard stating that there was no proof of corruption against the deposed premier in the 24th December Al-Azizia reference.

LAHORE: Vice  President PML-N Maryam Nawaz has claimed that deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif was convicted despite absence of any evidence against him and the Accountability Judge Arshad Malik who had convicted Nawaz Sharif was blackmailed (by means of a video) to give verdict against him.

She said this here today while presenting an audio/video featuring a conversation between the Accountability Judge Arshad Malik (who sentenced her father Nawaz to seven years in jail in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference) and a PML-N worker Nasir-Butt at a Presser flanked by Shehbaz Sharif (Leader of the Opposition in NA) and other PML-N heavyweights.

In the secretly filmed video, accountability judge Arshad Malik could be heard stating that there was no proof of corruption against the deposed premier in the 24th December Al-Aziziareference.

Special Assistant to PM on Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan reacting to the development said that PML-N had accepted that notorious Nasir Butt was loyal to PML-N. Firdous Awan further said that forensic auditing would be carried out of the secret footage and the findings would be presented to the public. Pointing out that filming someone in secret was itself a crime, she questioned the credibility of the maker of the video. She informed that Nasir Butt had a criminal record and had  bolted to London after murdering five people in Pakistan. She said that he had also been arrested by the London Police.  Firdous Awan while addressing Maryam Nawaz said that she had not accused just one judge but the entire judiciary.

__________________________________________________________

It is pertinent to mention here that Maryam Nawaz has admitted that Nasir Butt – who made the candid footage – was a PML-N follower. He recorded the clip  when he met Accountability Judge Arshad Malik.

According to Maryam Nawaz it was the Judge Arshad Malik himself who had contacted Nasir Butt to admit that he felt guilty due to the wrong verdict and asked him to meet him at his home where the secret video was recorded.  

Maryam Nawaz has alleged that the judge was shown a video and by means of that blackmailed to write the judgement against her father. According to her transcription of the audio in the video the judge says: “There is no evidence available to constitute that a single penny has been shifted from Pakistan by Nawaz. No evidence could be found regarding any embezzlement of funds in Pakistan or in Saudi Arabia.”

LAHORE: Vice  President PML-N Maryam Nawaz has claimed that deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif was convicted despite absence of any evidence against him and the Accountability Judge Arshad Malik who had convicted Nawaz Sharif was blackmailed (by means of a video) to give verdict against him.

She said this here today while presenting an audio/video featuring a conversation between the Accountability Judge Arshad Malik (who sentenced her father Nawaz to seven years in jail in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference) and a PML-N worker Nasir-Butt at a Presser flanked by Shehbaz Sharif (Leader of the Opposition in NA) and other PML-N heavyweights.

In the secretly filmed video, accountability judge Arshad Malik could be heard stating that there was no proof of corruption against the deposed premier in the 24th December Al-Aziziareference.

Special Assistant to PM on Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan reacting to the development said that PML-N had accepted that notorious Nasir Butt was loyal to PML-N. Firdous Awan further said that forensic auditing would be carried out of the secret footage and the findings would be presented to the public. Pointing out that filming someone in secret was itself a crime, she questioned the credibility of the maker of the video. She informed that Nasir Butt had a criminal record and had  bolted to London after murdering five people in Pakistan. She said that he had also been arrested by the London Police.  Firdous Awan while addressing Maryam Nawaz said that she had not accused just one judge but the entire judiciary.

__________________________________________________________

It is pertinent to mention here that Maryam Nawaz has admitted that Nasir Butt – who made the candid footage – was a PML-N follower. He recorded the clip  when he met Accountability Judge Arshad Malik.

According to Maryam Nawaz it was the Judge Arshad Malik himself who had contacted Nasir Butt to admit that he felt guilty due to the wrong verdict and asked him to meet him at his home where the secret video was recorded.

Maryam Nawaz has alleged that the judge was shown a video and by means of that blackmailed to write the judgement against her father. According to her transcription of the audio in the video the judge says: “There is no evidence available to constitute that a single penny has been shifted from Pakistan by Nawaz. No evidence could be found regarding any embezzlement of funds in Pakistan or in Saudi Arabia.”

According to the transcription of the presented secret video (being shown at the PML-N Twitter) the judge who had convicted Nawaz Sharif had uttered “London properties –  made basis for disqualification from PM status during trial case – failed, as prosecution could not establish link of the involvement of accused with acquisition of London properties.” Arshad Malik – Accountability Judge in the case – is further reported to have said in the audio/video:  “There is no allegation of financial corruption, illegal gratification, commission, kickback etc received by the accused or was paid by any person or department.”

Maryam Nawaz said that there was no evidence of shifting of any money or funds from Pakistan to London or Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, there was no proof of any kickbacks or illegal gratification or commission. She said that it was evident that Nawaz Sharif was victimized and convicted without any proof or evidence and thus now all the judgments against him should be declared nil and void. 

Claiming that she could be targeted for exposing the video, Maryam Nawaz threatened that in case of any misadventure from any quarter she would expose other evidences that she happens to harbor. 

According to the transcription of the presented secret video (being shown at the PML-N Twitter) the judge who had convicted Nawaz Sharif had uttered “London properties –  made basis for disqualification from PM status during trial case – failed, as prosecution could not establish link of the involvement of accused with acquisition of London properties.” Arshad Malik – Accountability Judge in the case – is further reported to have said in the audio/video:  “There is no allegation of financial corruption, illegal gratification, commission, kickback etc received by the accused or was paid by any person or department.”

Maryam Nawaz said that there was no evidence of shifting of any money or funds from Pakistan to London or Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, there was no proof of any kickbacks or illegal gratification or commission. She said that it was evident that Nawaz Sharif was victimized and convicted without any proof or evidence and thus now all the judgments against him should be declared nil and void. 

Claiming that she could be targeted for exposing the video, Maryam Nawaz threatened that in case of any misadventure from any quarter she would expose other evidences that she happens to harbor.