The cabinet delayed the case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and issued a contempt notice against the PM.

Due to internal procedural problems at the Islamabad High Court, the contempt of court notice that was sent to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and members of the federal cabinet in the Dr. Aafia Siddiqui case has been temporarily halted.

The Prime Minister and cabinet members were previously asked to respond to the court’s request for a report on the case within two weeks. The Registrar’s Office, however, has refrained from sending out formal notices, claiming that an order was issued even though the case was not formally scheduled for hearing on July 21.

The hearing letter from Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan’s office was received on July 16 after the weekly roster was finalised, according to sources in the Registrar’s Office.

Although an updated cause list was intended to be released, the appropriate authority did not formally approve it. They stated that notices cannot be sent out until such approval is obtained.

The Prime Minister and cabinet were served with a written order and show-cause notices by Justice Sardar Ejaz on July 21 for failing to submit the report in the Aafia Siddiqui case.

The next hearing will be held on the first working day following the conclusion of the court’s summer break, the judge said.

Justice Ejaz also voiced his extreme disapproval of the interference with the court’s schedule, claiming that administrative authority had once again been abused to sway court decisions. He declared that he will uphold the integrity of justice by using his judicial authority.

The judge added that although the cause list was blocked for modifications, the case of Dr. Fauzia Siddiqui, sister of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, was purposefully scheduled for July 21.

He disclosed that his personal secretary had not yet signed his request to the Chief Justice. “Judicial discretion was once again superseded by administrative powers,” he remarked.

Judge Ejaz emphasised that the Chief Justice’s office, which oversees the court roster, must grant permission for justices to sit on vacation. “I wanted to hear the case to deliver justice, but my vacations were supposed to begin today,” he continued.

“I refuse to allow justice to be overthrown. He declared, “I will uphold the dignity of this court by using my judicial powers.”