ISLAMABAD: The video leak case of former accountability judge Arshad Malik took another turn on Monday when a cybercrimes court in Islamabad ordered to transfer the case to an anti-terrorism court (ATC) for further proceedings.
As the hearing of the case resumed on Monday, an investigation officer of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) informed the court that the suspects have been identified as Hamza Arif Butt and Faisal Shaheen.
To this, the judge asked the officer about the claims made in the previous application. Responding to the court, the officer said same suspects were identified in the prior application.
In its response, the defence counsel pleaded to reject the transfer of the case to the ATC as terrorism clauses were inapplicable to the case. To this, the judge observed that clauses of terrorism had already been added in the case and therefore it needed to be transferred to the ATC.
On Sept 30, the court expressed displeasure at the FIA for not submitting a final charge sheet in the said case. Subsequently, the court directed the agency to file the charge sheet by Oct 7.
Subsequently, on Sept 23, a cybercrimes court judge, Tahir Mehmood Khan, directed the FIA to submit the charge sheet after the Agency, in an interim chargesheet, informed the court that the inquiry into the case had been transferred from the cyber crime wing to the counter-terrorism wing.
The transfer of the inquiry happened on the complaint of former judge Malik as the cybercrime wing released from its custody three suspects who allegedly blackmailed the judge.
Judge Malik had convicted Sharif in the Flagship reference. Later on, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz had released a video alleging that the judge was “under duress” to convict the former premier.
However, in his affidavit, judge Malik accused Nasir Janjua, Mahar Ghulam Jilani and Khurram Yousaf of pressurising him because of his immoral video to get a favorable judgment.
Following an inquiry by FIA, a local court had acquitted the three suspects over a lack of sufficient evidence. They had been sent on a five-day physical remand under the FIA custody for further investigation into the case.
A judicial magistrate, Saqib Jawad, had ordered the removal of the trio from the case.
On Sept 2, the FIA had arrested Nasir Janjua, Mahar Ghulam Jilani and Khurram Yousaf from the cybercrime court following the dismissal of their pre-arrest bail.
Earlier, a civil judge, Shaista Kundi, had rescued herself from hearing proceedings against the suspects.
Sources familiar with the matter revealed that judge Kundi was approached for the acquittal of the suspects from the concerned parties. However, she reported the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and excused herself from the case.
Malik was removed from his position after the video was released and repatriated to the Lahore High Court (LHC) where disciplinary proceedings against him will be held.
