In fresh apology, ex-GB judge Rana Shamim terms affidavit 'wrong, unnecessary'.

In a fresh apology tendered to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a contempt case, former Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) chief judge Rana Muhammad Shamim termed his affidavit - in which allegations of judicial manipulation were levelled against the former chief justice of Pakistan, Saqib Nisar - 'wrong and unnecessary."

Rana, in his fresh apology, solemnly affirmed: 'I tender an unconditional apology for an affidavit which was neither correct nor required.'

He maintained that during his more than 30 years of professional life he has always respected both the bar and the bench and could never imagine intentionally scandalising or showing contempt to any judge.

'I regret rather apologize for an incorrect affidavit where the name of an honourable judge was mistakenly and unintentionally mentioned.'

Expressing his regret over the 'grave mistake', the judge said it should never have happened.

'The wrong and incorrect mention of a judge of this honourable court in the affidavit dated 10th Nov 2021 was due to my glaring misunderstanding and unintentional mistake,' said Shamim.

Withdrawing from the contents of the affidavit, the former judge said, 'I profusely apologize for the wrong and unnecessary affidavit.'

'I place myself at the mercy of this honourable court,' he added.

Contempt charges against Shamim

On January 20, the IHC formally indicted Rana Shamim in the case pertaining to the publication of his alleged affidavit.

Rana Shamim, however, submitted an unconditional written apology to the IHC in the contempt of court case filed against him.

Shamim stated that he was under extreme mental stress and was a "serious heart patient" aged 72 when he wrote down his affidavit "after approximately three long years" since the meeting that he mentioned above.

According to Shamim, this was why he fell "victim to a misunderstanding" and wrote the name Justice Aamir by mistake instead of "senior puisne judge" in the affidavit.

He said that he...