In Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s case, the IHC constitutes a larger bench

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has formed a four-member bigger bench to hear a case filed by Dr Fowzia Siddiqui for the release of her sister, Dr Aafia Siddiqui, from a US jail.

The larger bench will be presided over by Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, with Justice Khadim Hussain Somroo, Justice Azam Khan, and Justice Raja Inam Amin Minhas as members.

According to the cause list, the hearing on the petition is set for September 10.

After recusing himself from hearing the case on September 1, Justice Inam Ameen Minhas forwarded it to the chief justice and recommended the establishment of a larger bench.

Previously, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan heard the case and issued contempt notices to the prime minister and cabinet members for failing to comply with court orders.

However, when Justice Ejaz was assigned to the special division bench for tax cases, his single bench cases, including this one, were moved.

The lawsuit concerns the federal government’s failure to act on judicial orders involving efforts to repatriate Dr Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist imprisoned in the United States.