Aafia Siddiqui Case Update: Islamabad High Court Quashes Contempt Proceedings Against PM and Federal Cabinet as the court ended legal proceedings against the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Federal Cabinet of Pakistan. The decision follows concerns over an illegal bench formation that issued contempt of court notices in the Dr. Aafia Siddiqui case. The Islamabad High Court clarified the administrative powers of the Chief Justiceof the Islamabad High Court and reinforced proper court jurisdiction authority under Pakistan’s constitutional framework of courts.
The larger bench highlighted that the July 21 court order lacked validity because it was not issued by a legally constituted bench. According to the master of the roster doctrine, only the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court has the authority to constitute benches. This ensures judicial independence principles and prevents self-initiated judicial actions that violate procedural legality. The ruling also emphasized that Pakistan must respect the judicial administrative mechanism to maintain fairness and efficiency.
Justices noted that any action outside the approved bench constitution undermines judicial harmony concerns and the separation of powers doctrine. The decision strengthens the Chief Justice’s powers and ensures courts follow the Constitution. It also underscores the importance of following bench constitution approval to uphold judicial efficiency principles.
