Islamabad High Court Reserves Decision on Request to Suspend Judge in £190 Million Case

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court has reserved its decision on a petition seeking to suspend Sessions Judge Nasir Javed Rana, who delivered the verdict in a £190 million case. The petition was filed in light of observations made by the Supreme Court in 2004.

The hearing was presided over by Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar, with petitioner Usama Riaz represented by lawyer Riaz Hanif Rahi. During the proceedings, Chief Justice Dogar remarked that the petition raised issues that are over two decades old, questioning why the matter was not brought to court earlier. He added, “This order is 22 years old. Where were you back then? Only after so many years are you seeking to enforce a Supreme Court order, which raises questions about your intentions.”

The Chief Justice further emphasized that the court cannot allow petitions to be filed at any time without consideration of the delay, saying, “How can you come today to enforce an order from 22 years ago?”

Lawyer Riaz Hanif Rahi argued that although the matter is time-barred, it gained public attention in October 2025 after media reports highlighted the case. He stressed that the petition relates to a notification under which the judge is still performing duties, and that the Supreme Court’s observations regarding Sessions Judge Nasir Javed Rana must be respected. He also presented authenticated records supporting the Supreme Court’s previous directives, including an order on remand procedures without presenting the accused in court.

Chief Justice Dogar concluded the hearing by saying, “We have heard your arguments; we will issue an order on this matter.” The court has reserved its decision on the petition’s admissibility.