ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued a contempt notice to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other members of the federal cabinet due to their failure to submit a report concerning the case of Dr Aafia Siddiqui.
During a hearing initiated by Dr Aafia’s sister, Dr Fauzia Siddiqui, regarding her sister’s health and repatriation from a U.S. prison, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan stated, “A contempt of court notice is being issued to every member of the federal cabinet.”
The judge issued a brief order indicating that the next hearing will take place on the first working day following the court’s holiday period.
Dr Aafia, a Pakistani neuroscientist, has been imprisoned in the United States for over 14 years. She was sentenced in 2010 to 86 years on charges including attempted murder and assault against U.S. personnel in an Afghan jail. She is currently detained at Carswell, a high-security facility in Fort Worth, Texas.
Earlier in January, Dr Aafia sought presidential clemency, calling her imprisonment a “blatant miscarriage of justice.” Her plea was submitted just hours before the U.S. presidential transition; however, President Joe Biden rejected her application.
In today’s proceedings, Justice Ishaq mentioned that he had scheduled Dr Fauzia’s case for Monday but was later informed that the cause list would not be issued until the schedule was revised. “The personal secretary informed me about the roster change. I instructed them to contact the Chief Justice regarding the cause list,” the judge explained.
He further criticized the administrative handling of judges’ scheduling, questioning whether the Chief Justice had even signed the roster in time.
“The judges’ roster has previously been used to decide certain cases,” Justice Ejaz remarked, emphasizing that administrative powers should not interfere with judicial proceedings.
“Once again, administrative authority has been misused to influence judicial matters. I am determined to preserve the integrity and dignity of this court,” he asserted, leading to the issuance of the contempt notice to the federal cabinet.
