ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan remarked during the hearing of sentence suspension appeals filed by Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chatha that the system should be fully exposed, adding that a case may disappear from the system, but the judges would remain present.
A two-member bench headed by Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan heard the appeals seeking suspension of the sentences of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chatha in the Supreme Court.
During the hearing, Justice Afghan asked when the Islamabad High Court would resume regular proceedings after its holidays.
The Additional Attorney General informed the court that the Islamabad High Court would formally resume work from September 6. He argued that the appeals seeking suspension of the sentences were not maintainable.
Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim questioned where the law provided that the appeals were not maintainable.
Advocate Faisal Siddiqui told the court that the Supreme Court had ordered the decision on the sentence suspension appeals within two weeks, but the order had not been implemented. The Additional Attorney General maintained that the Islamabad High Court had its own system under which cases were scheduled.
Supreme Court, Imaan Mazari, Hadi Chatha, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan
Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan remarked that it would be better not to seek the Supreme Court’s opinion on the Islamabad High Court’s system. Faisal Siddiqui said the case had suddenly been fixed for September 8 at the Islamabad High Court and alleged that whenever the Supreme Court was about to decide the matter, the case was scheduled before the high court.
Justice Afghan told Faisal Siddiqui to let the system be fully exposed. Faisal Siddiqui said the cause list had not yet been issued and expressed concern that the case might disappear from the system.
Justice Afghan responded that the case could disappear from the system, but the judges would not, urging him not to worry and saying they were present and, God willing, would remain present in the future as well.
Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim remarked that the court had only directed that a decision be made on the sentence suspension and could also dismiss the applications.
Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan said that at the next hearing, either the bench would be deciding the matter or the petitioners would be withdrawing their cases.
The court subsequently adjourned further proceedings until September 17.