Video leak scandal: SC wraps up petitions on Judge Arshad Malik, verdict to be issued

Wrapping up the video leak scandal involving former accountability court Judge Arsha Malik, the Supreme Court (SC) announced on Friday that a detailed verdict will soon be issued.

A three-member bench of the SC headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Asif Saeed Khosa, comprising Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed announced the verdict today. Wrapping up the case, the CJP said that five issues had been discussed.

Later, in the detailed judgement, the SC said that since the Islamabad High Court (IHC) is already hearing a petition against the conviction of Nawaz Sharif, it is for the high court to decide whether it wants to take the video as evidence.

The apex court also commented on Judge Malik's conduct. "His admitted conduct emerging from that press release and the affidavit stinks and the stench of such stinking conduct has the tendency to bring bad name to the entire judiciary as an institution."

Suspect involved in Judge Arshad Malik’s video scandal remanded into FIA’s custody

Last month, Maryam Nawaz, along with her uncle Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif, played a video during a press conference in which Judge Malik was allegedly confessing about announcing unjust verdict against former PM Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia case.

Maryam claimed that the judge, who was in a conversation with Nasir Butt – a loyal fan of her father – had allegedly told him that he was pressured into convicting Nawaz. Following the video, the accountability court judge released a press statement denying the allegations of being pressurised and blackmailed.

The judge also said the videos shown during the presser are fake and based on lies and assumptions. Following the video scandal, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had written to the Ministry of Law issuing orders to remove the judge from his post.

On Thursday, the IHC suspended the Judge Malik and directed that he be repatriated to Lahore High Court his parent department.