Cyber crimes court refuses to transfer judge video scandal case to ATC.

Byline: Malik Asad

ISLAMABAD -- The Prevention of Electronic Crimes (cyber crimes) court on Monday rejected the application seeking transfer of the judge video scandal case to the Anti Terrorism Court (ATC).

Special judge of the cyber crimes court Tahir Mehmood Khan also directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to submit complete challan against the accused.

FIA had requested the judge to transfer this case to the ATC since the investigation was transferred from its Cyber Crimes Wing to Counter Terrorism Wing (CTW) on the complaint of judge Arshad Malik who in a secretly recorded controversial video 'confessed' to having convicted Nawaz Sharif under duress.

Judge Malik who has been suspended following the release of the video expressed doubts on FIA's Cyber Crimes Wing after they declared three suspects Nasir Janjua, Khurram Yousaf and Ghulam Jilani innocent.

FIA on judge Malik's complaint transferred the inquiry to CTW and also filed an application to cyber crimes court to transfer the case to ATC as the CTW investigates under the Anti Terrorism Act (ATA).

Two accused including nephew of Nasir Butt, main character behind the judge video scandal, were arrested by the CTW and were produced before the ATC for securing physical remand. Later on, they were sent on judicial remand to Adiala jail.

Meanwhile, Nasir Butt filed a petition before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against foreign secretary, first secretary and Pakistani High Commissioner in the UK for not attesting the documentary evidence against judge Arshad Malik.

The counsel for Mr Butt adopted before the court that despite his client's repeated visits to the Pakistani High Commission, the relevant officials were reluctant to attest the documentary...