ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday fixed January 7, 2022, for framing charges against former chief judge of the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Rana Shamim and others in a controversial affidavit case.

The case pertains to an investigative news report highlighting an affidavit attributed to the GB ex-chief judge. In his affidavit, the ex-chief judge accused former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Mian Saqib Nisar of colluding to deny bails to PML-N leadership prior to the 2018 elections.

During the course of hearing, the IHC chief justice Athar Minallah directed that copies of the affidavit be provided to the Attorney General for Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan. Appearing on court notice, Rana Shamim opened his original affidavit, which he had submitted in the court some days ago.

To a court query that if the document was his (Rana Shamim) affidavit and whether he had sealed it himself, Rana Shamim replied in the affirmative. Appearing on court notice, Ansar Abbasi, Editor Investigation The News, who had published the affidavit, stated that before publishing the affidavit, he had spoken to Rana Shamim.

He said he had read out the affidavit to Rana Shamim and Rana Shamim had also sent him a text confirming that all he (Abbasi) had read out to him was correct. Meanwhile, the court adjourned the hearing until January 7.