Lahore High Court chief justice dismisses accountability judge Arshad Malik

The Lahore High Court (LHC) chief justice has terminated the services of accountability judge Arshad Malik, local media reported. According to sources, the decision was announced by the administration committee presided over by the high court’s chief justice. Justices Mohamed Ameer Bhatti, Ahmad Khan, Ayesha Malik, Shahid Waeed, and Ali Baqir took part in the committee meeting. Malik had convicted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia reference. The judge, in a complaint filed with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)’s cyber-crime wing, had claimed that he had been blackmailed by Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) supporters. PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif has hailed the LHC’s decision to dismiss Malik, saying that this proves his brother Nawaz is innocent. The former Punjab chief minister added that this proves the three-time elected prime minister was handed an unjust verdict. Shehbaz said that following the LHC the decision, Nawaz’s conviction should also be repealed. PML-N vice-president Maryam Nawaz had alleged last year that Malik had contacted Nasir Butt, a PML-N worker, and told him that he was feeling guilty and having nightmares ever since he announced the verdict that led to her father’s imprisonment. The judge was “blackmailed” into handing down the sentence against Nawaz Sharif after some people threatened that they would release a private video of his, she had alleged.