Shehbaz, Maryam welcome reports of judge Arshad Malik's dismissal by LHC
PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Friday said that the reported dismissal of former Islamabad accountability court judge Arshad Malik "proved the innocence" of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
"Mian sb's sentence ought to be declared null and void," said Shehbaz of his brother's seven-year sentence in the Al Azizia corruption reference.
Shehbaz was reacting to media reports that the Lahore High Court (LHC) had dismissed the judge who had convicted Nawaz in the Al-Azizia reference. According to sources, an administrative committee, headed by LHC Chief Justice Mohammad Qasim Khan, approved the dismissal of the accountability court judge earlier on Friday.
It is pertinent to mention that no official notification has been issued in this regard as yet.
Last year in July, the Islamabad High Court had removed Malik from his post amid a controversy surrounding a leaked videotape showing his purported confession that he had been “pressurised and blackmailed” to convict Nawaz Sharif in the Al Azizia corruption reference.
The judge had denied the allegations, saying there was no pressure on him to convict Sharif and that the videos shown by Maryam Nawaz of his alleged confession at a press conference were "fake and based on lies".
In a statement on Friday, Shehbaz welcomed the reported decision of Malik's dismissal and said that justice had finally been served. "This proves that his [Malik's] decision was not just and [Nawaz] was punished unfairly."
He added that in light of this, it was expected the verdict against Nawaz would be withdrawn. "The LHC administration committee's decision is proof of his innocence."
He appealed to party workers and the public to offer prayers of gratitude.
PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz also hailed the media reports, calling it a victory. "The decision has washed away a stain on Nawaz and on the institution of justice."
She added that in light of the decision, the "tainted" judge's decision regarding Nawaz should be withdrawn.
"Justice is never incomplete. It dictates that [Malik's] decision be declared void in the same way he was dismissed."
She added that it was very easy to preach about the law and the Constitution. "You need Nawaz's bravery to face the law, knowing that you are innocent and that your spouse is on their death bed," she said, adding that her father's perseverance had finally prevailed.
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