Ex-judge rejects Shahbaz`s statement

Published December 5, 2009

LAHORE, Dec 4 Former Lahore High Court judge Justice M. Bilal Khan has rejected 'allegations' against him levelled by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif that he (Bilal) helped the Bank of Punjab scam accused flee the country by asking the police not to arrest him.

In a statement on Friday, Justice Bilal said in his capacity as the LHC judge and as the chief justice of Islamabad High Court, he had never heard any petition or application on which he could pass such an order.

“As CJ of Islamabad High Court, while heading a division bench, I had ordered (perhaps in April 2009) that the properties and assets identified by NAB as belongings to Haris Steel shall not be alienated during the pendency of the writ petition.

“Mr Shahbaz Sharif has developed 'Justice Bilal Phobia' ever since I decided his disqualification case in June 2008. In fact, I have become his “Bogey Man”. In this backdrop and keeping in view the unabated venom and spite exhibited against me, by the chief executive of the province, I feel extremely insecure and have genuine apprehensions about my personal safety and security as that of my family,” the statement added.