Judge video scandal case: IHC mandated to announce its decision, says SC

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday disposed of former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s petition, seeking review of its August 23 verdict in a video scandal case involving former accountability court judge Arshad Malik.

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa and comprising Justice Sardar Tariq Masood and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, heard the review petition filed by Advocate Khawaja Harris on behalf of Nawaz Sharif.

Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa observed that the apex court’s remarks will not influence proceedings of the video scandal case currently being heard by the Islamabad High Court (IHC). He said the earlier judgment stated that the high court was empowered to make its own decision without being influenced by the apex court’s verdict. He observed that Nawaz Sharif’s counsel Khawaja Haris’ arguments were repetitive, as the Supreme Court had already debated and decided on them in the August 23 verdict.

Justice Khosa further remarked that an impression was being created that the IHC’s powers were restricted. “This happens when the judgment is not thoroughly read,” he added. The chief justice said the IHC was mandated to announce its decision in the video scandal case.