Former chief justice of the Gilgit-Baltistan Appellate Court Rana Shamim’s lawyer on Monday informed the Islamabad High Court that the original affidavit, sealed in an envelope, of his client has been submitted to the court.

Shamim’s counsel Lateed Afridi informed the court of the development during the hearing of the contempt of court case against the ex-judge and three others.

In the last hearing of the case on December 13, the court had again directed the former chief judge of G-B to submit the original affidavit while deciding to defer framing contempt of court charges. The court had previously directed him to submit the affidavit in hearings on November 30 and December 7 as well.

The affidavit pertains to the story attributed to Shamim in a story by journalist Ansar Abbasi published in The News’ on November 15. In the report, former chief justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar is accused of collusion to deny bails to top PML-N leadership prior to the 2018 general elections.

During the hearing, amicus curiae Faisal Siddiqui submitted his written response to the court.

Meanwhile, the additional attorney general informed the court that Attorney General of Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan could not appear before the court because of sickness.

During today's proceedings, Afridi told the court that the original affidavit of his client in a sealed envelope had been submitted to the IHC and Shamim “stands by his statement from day one”.

Justice Minallah said the sealed envelope has been received and was further sealed.

The IHC CJ said that the court does not hesitate from criticism. “An affidavit was issued after three years that targeted the court,” he said.

“We give you a chance to convince the court. If the court is convinced then the case will be taken back. This is an open inquiry. Your client [Shamim] issued a very big statement, he said that ‘all judges or the whole Islamabad High Court run on someone’s directives',” Minallah said.

“You should understand that this is not a proceeding for contempt of court. This is my accountability. If there is even an ounce of truth in such statements so give proof. The public’s trust in these courts and should be kept. This court will not deviate from the law,” he added.

Journalist Nasir Zaidi, who is the secretary general of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and an amicus curiae in the case, told the IHC that freedom of expression could not be considered contempt of court.

The court adjourned the hearing of the case till December 28.