Islamabad (Staff Report/Agencies): The Supreme Court on Tuesday disposed of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s plea seeking a review of an August 23 verdict by the top court regarding a video scandal involving former accountability court judge Mohammad Arshad Malik.
A three-member bench of the top court, headed by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and comprising Justice Sardar Tariq Masood and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, heard the petition.
The court made it clear that its earlier observations — in which it held that the video clip concerning Arshad Malik will only benefit Nawaz if its genuineness is established — will not influence high court proceedings. Chief Justice Khosa said the high court was independent in making its decisions, adding that they had written this before and would do so again.
The review petition pleaded that the verdict of the apex court was per incuriam (through lack of care) since it was passed without jurisdiction and therefore merited to be reviewed.
In its August 23 ruling, the top court had directed the petitioner, Ishtiaq Ahmed, to refer to the Islamabad High Court with his plea.
The IHC is currently hearing an appeal filed by the former premier into his conviction in the Al-Azizia reference.
