ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday deferred till December 20 the framing of charges in a contempt of court case against former chief judge of Gilgit-Baltistan Rana Muhammad Shamim.

The court directed the other respondents- Editor Investigation The News Ansar Abbasi, Resident Editor and Publisher and Editor in-Chief The News Aamer Ghouri and Mir Shakeel-ur- Rehman respectively- to submit their counter-affidavits till December 20. The court also deferred till December 20 the framing of charges in the contempt of court case against Ansar Abbasi, Aamer Ghouri and Mir Shakeel-ur- Rehman.

The case pertains to the publication of an affidavit attributed to the GB’s ex-chief judge in which he accused former Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar of colluding to deny bails to the top PML-N leadership prior to the general elections 2018, in front of him in GB. The IHC redirected Rana Shamim to submit the original affidavit till December 7. The case is being heard by IHC Chief Justice, Justice Athar Minallah.

According to the affidavit published by Ansar Abbasi, Rana Shamim had allegedly stated that the then CJP Mina Saqib Nisar during his visit to GB made a call to an IHC judge and asked him to ensure that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz are not released on bail before July 25, 2018 general elections.

During the today (Monday) heating, Rana Shamim, Ansar Abbasi, Aamer Ghouri and Attorney General for Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan were present in the court. During the hearing, the Chief Justice Athar Minallah said the court would not tolerate any attempt to undermine the provision of justice or public confidence at large.