RAWALPINDI: Two senior judges from the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench have been reassigned. Justice Jawad Hassan and Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz are set to join new posts at the principal seat in Lahore and the Multan bench, respectively. Meanwhile, Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) Justice Babar Sattar is expected to resume his duties next week.
The LHC registrar’s office confirmed these transfers in its latest roster. Justice Hassan, responsible for corporate and commercial cases, will transfer to the Lahore seat. Justice Aziz, handling criminal cases, will shift to the Multan bench. Ranked 18th and 20th in seniority, Justice Hassan and Justice Aziz will be replaced by Justice Anwaar Hussain and Justice Mohammad Raza Qureshi, who hold 32nd and 35th positions on the LHC seniority list.
Justice Babar Sattar of the IHC, who went on leave last month, is scheduled to return to his position on October 30. According to the IHC duty roster, he will serve until November 1. However, sources indicate that he may apply for another leave from November 4, potentially extending his absence by at least two weeks.
Concerns Over Judicial Amendments
Sources suggest Justice Sattar’s leave may be linked to his dissatisfaction with recent constitutional amendments related to the judiciary. Though an initial draft included provisions for a federal constitutional court and judge transfers, parliament ultimately passed a version that excluded these clauses. Despite this, Justice Sattar remains concerned about the judicial reforms process.
Justice Sattar has been involved in significant cases, including the controversial audio leak case. In this case, state agencies are accused of unlawfully surveilling citizens through a system called the “Lawful Intercept Management System.” During the hearings, Justice Sattar raised concerns about possible retaliation and harassment related to his stance on privacy and surveillance issues.
Earlier this year, he and five other judges submitted a letter to the Supreme Judicial Council alleging harassment by intelligence agencies. Justice Sattar later filed a complaint with IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, reporting personal attacks linked to his involvement in the audio leak case.
Breach of Privacy and FIA Investigation
In his complaint, Justice Sattar highlighted that private details about him and his family had been leaked online. Personal information, including their identity cards and U.S. residence permits, was circulated on social media. Justice Sattar requested Chief Justice Farooq to initiate contempt proceedings over this breach of privacy.
In response, the IHC instructed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate and take action against those responsible for spreading the personal data. The ongoing investigation reflects the IHC’s stance on safeguarding judicial privacy and security.
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