The contempt of court notice issued to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and federal cabinet members in the Dr Aafia Siddiqui case has been temporarily halted due to internal procedural issues within the Islamabad High Court.
The court had earlier sought a response within two weeks from the Prime Minister and cabinet members for failing to submit a report in the case. However, the Registrar’s Office has withheld issuing official notices, stating that the case was not officially scheduled for hearing on July 21, yet an order was still passed.
Sources in the Registrar’s Office said that the hearing note from Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan’s office was received on July 16, after the weekly roster had already been finalized.
A revised cause list was supposed to be issued, but no official approval came from the competent authority. Until that approval is received, notices cannot be dispatched, they added.
On July 21, Justice Sardar Ejaz issued a written order and show-cause notices to the Prime Minister and cabinet for not submitting the report in the Aafia Siddiqui case.
The judge remarked that the next hearing will take place on the first working day after the court’s summer break ends.
Justice Ejaz also expressed strong displeasure over the interference in the court’s scheduling, stating that once again administrative powers had been misused to influence judicial matters. He said he would exercise his judicial authority to protect the integrity of justice.
The judge further stated that the case of Dr Fauzia Siddiqui, sister of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, was intentionally scheduled for July 21 but the cause list was blocked pending amendments.
He revealed that his request to the Chief Justice through the personal secretary remained unsigned. “Once again, administrative powers were used to override judicial discretion,” he said.
Justice Ejaz underscored that judges cannot sit during vacation unless permitted by the Chief Justice’s office, which manages the court roster. “My vacations were scheduled to start today, but I wanted to hear the case to deliver justice,” he added.
“I will not let justice be defeated. I will use my judicial powers to uphold the dignity of this court,” he asserted.
