The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued a show cause notice for contempt of court to all members of the federal cabinet over their handling of the case involving Dr Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani citizen imprisoned in the United States.
Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq issued the notice while addressing the delay and lack of cooperation by the government. He noted that although his official holidays were set to begin, he chose to hear Dr Aafia’s case, among others, out of urgency. He stated that the judge roster is managed by the Chief Justice’s office, and any alterations must follow proper procedure.
Justice Ishaq also revealed that the government had challenged his earlier ruling in the Supreme Court. However, he made it clear that a judge is not barred from working during holidays if necessary.
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He further stated that he had instructed his personal secretary to write to the Chief Justice about the missing cause list, and was informed that no list would be issued until changes were made.
Declaring the government’s actions as obstructive, the judge announced contempt proceedings against the entire federal cabinet.
In a previous hearing held in July, the same judge had criticised the government for failing to submit a detailed response about why Pakistan had refused to support Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s legal case in the US. He had even warned of possible contempt action against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other ministers.
The petition, filed by Dr Fouzia Siddiqui, seeks her sister’s repatriation, health updates, and eventual release from American custody.