Rana Shamim’s affidavit discussed in National Assembly

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has demanded a debate on the affidavit of former chief justice of the apex court of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Rana M Shamim, stating that he was witness to the directives of former Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar to a high court judge asking him not to release Nawaz Sharif and his daughter on bail before General Elections in 2018.

Media reports of the alleged affidavit of the former chief justice of GB was taken up for discussion in the National Assembly on Monday where the opposition benches raised questions over the transparency of the 2018 General Elections while the treasury benches responded to the allegations made against them.

According to media report, former GB chief justice Rana M Shamim, in an affidavit, stated that had witnessed the then top judge Saqib Nisar directing a high court judge not to release Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz on bail at any cost before the 2018 General Elections.

PML-N lawmaker Khawaja Asif, while talking over the issue on point of order, stated that the parliamentarians cannot remain ‘blind and deaf’ to it. He stressed that the issue should be debated and relevant institutions should take notice of the affidavit.

However, he also clarified that they did not want any confrontation with the judiciary. Asif also stated that judges of the high and the apex courts made attempts to influence the election process.

“When will this practice stop? What would remain in the country if the constitutional institutions get destroyed,” he questioned.

National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser tried to stop Asif from further commenting on the matter pointing out that the matter was sub-judice, but the PML-N leader continued saying that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif were kept behind the bars in a move to stop them from participating in the election.

As soon as Minister of Communication Murad Saeed was given the floor by the speaker, the opposition pointed out lack of quorum which led to the head count of the members. The quorum was not in order and the proceedings of the House were suspended for a few minutes. Later, the count was made again and the proceedings of the House started when the quorum was found in order.

Responding to Asif, Murad Saeed stated that Nawaz Sharif appointed Rana M Shamim as the chief judge of G-B.

He said Nawaz Sharif along with Ishaq Dar and others is an absconder at the moment and hasn’t returned back to the country after he was allowed to go abroad for medical treatment.

Taking the floor, Federal Minister Asad Umar lambasted the opposition parties.

“Nawaz Sharif made comments against the army and later PDM was thawed,” he said alleging that a few journalists were facilitators of PDM in the ‘journalist’s disguise’.

He claimed that next election would be held on EVMs and those who believe in free election would support this move and others would oppose it.

Osama Qadir from MQM asked the federal government to announce compensation for the shopkeepers of Cooperative market fire in Karachi.