In a sharp escalation of the Aafia Siddiqui case, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday issued contempt notices to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the entire federal cabinet. The court took this action after the government repeatedly failed to submit a response on the matter of Dr Siddiqui’s health, release, and repatriation from the United States.
Repeated Delays Spark Court Action
Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq, who presided over the hearing, expressed deep frustration with the government’s inaction. He noted that despite a previous warning, officials failed to file the required report on time. The judge had clearly stated earlier that continued negligence would lead to contempt proceedings.
In his order, he wrote that the federal government had also appealed to the Supreme Court against his decision allowing amendments in the original petition. However, he pointed out that the apex court had not yet taken up the appeal—effectively stalling the case.
Due to the government’s continued silence, Justice Ishaq ordered the IHC office to initiate a contempt petition. All cabinet members, including the prime minister, must now respond within two weeks.
Strong Words from the Bench
Justice Ishaq opened his order with a scathing critique of administrative interference in judicial matters. Referring to the current state of the IHC, he said:
“Ever since the demolition squad was catapulted into this high court after the 26th Constitutional Amendment, we have seen one heresy after another hurled at the edifice of justice.”
He particularly criticized how the weekly roster—controlled by the office of the chief justice—was being used to interfere with judicial independence. He said this system now functioned as a tool to direct outcomes in sensitive cases.
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Administrative Hurdles and Roster Politics
The judge revealed that he was scheduled to be on leave this week. However, he was told that the cause list (which schedules court hearings) would not be issued without the chief justice’s approval. Despite submitting a formal application, he received no response.
“I was informed on Saturday that the chief justice did not find even 30 seconds to sign it,” Justice Ishaq remarked. He stopped short of outright blame but stated that based on past interference, he suspected the delay was deliberate.
He further added that administrative powers had again been misused to suppress judicial authority. Despite this, he said, “The imperatives of justice shall not be defeated by such petty means.”
Petitioner’s Legal Team Pushes Forward
Lawyer Imran Shafiq appeared on behalf of Dr Fowzia Siddiqui, sister of Dr Aafia Siddiqui. Former senator Mushtaq Ahmed also attended the hearing in support.
During the proceedings, Justice Ishaq questioned the unusual scheduling of the case during his leave period. Shafiq responded that the nature of the case demanded immediate attention. He also stated that the government would have already sought a stay order from the Supreme Court had they truly intended to halt proceedings.
The court learned that Shafiq had avoided filing the case in the Supreme Court due to the presence of Justice Mansoor Ali Shah on the bench. “The case will only be filed when the roster of judges changes,” he candidly stated.
Next Steps in the Case
In a firm closing statement, Justice Ishaq said the court had no choice but to issue contempt notices due to the government’s continued disregard. He confirmed that the next hearing would be scheduled on the first working day after his return from leave.
He also made it clear that attempts to delay or manipulate court proceedings—through either administrative hurdles or legal technicalities—would not prevent the court from upholding justice.
This renewed focus on the Aafia Siddiqui case has put pressure back on the federal government. As the IHC demands answers, it remains to be seen whether the administration will comply or continue down the path of legal confrontation.
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