Contempt of Court Action Considered Against Prime Minister and Federal Cabinet in Aafia Siddiqui Case

Islamabad: In the ongoing Aafia Siddiqui case, the Islamabad High Court has hinted at initiating contempt of court proceedings against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the federal cabinet for failing to submit a required report.
The case, which involves the release, health, and repatriation of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, was heard in the Islamabad High Court. The court expressed strong dissatisfaction with the federal government’s failure to submit a report regarding the reasons for rejecting assistance in Aafia Siddiqui’s case by the U.S. court.
Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan, hearing the petition filed by Dr. Fozia Siddiqui, warned that if the government’s report was not submitted in court, he would summon the entire cabinet. “Why not initiate contempt of court proceedings against all the ministers in the federal cabinet?” he remarked, adding that the court would take action not only against the federal cabinet but also against the Prime Minister.
The court pointed out that it had requested a response in June, and questioned why the report had not been presented. During the proceedings, the additional Attorney General, Rashid Hafeez, was asked to submit the report within three days. When he requested an extension, asking for time until the following week, Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan responded, stating, “I will be on annual leave starting next week.”
The court accepted the additional attorney general’s request for a one-week extension and postponed the hearing until July 21.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer, Imran Shafiq, mentioned that a separate application had been filed for a meeting between Dr. Fozia Siddiqui and the Prime Minister. Justice Khan inquired, “What will Dr. Fozia Siddiqui achieve by meeting the Prime Minister? Does he not already know what needs to be done?”