IHC reserves ruling on judge restraint plea

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday reserved its verdict on the admissibility of a petition seeking to restrain Sessions Judge Nasir Javed Rana from performing his judicial duties.

IHC Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar heard the petition filed by Osama Riaz against the sessions judge in light of a 2004 observation made by the Supreme Court.

During the hearing, the chief justice questioned the timing of the plea, noting that the Supreme Court's observation was made 22 years ago. "Where were you all this time? After twenty-two years, you remembered that the Supreme Court's order was not implemented?" he remarked.

The petitioner's lawyer contended that the issue had resurfaced recently after being highlighted in the media in October 2025. "According to the notification we have challenged, the judge continues to perform his duties. If something illegal has been pointed out and published in an English newspaper, the record is there," he argued.

He maintained that the matter concerned an observation of the Supreme Court, which formed part of the judicial record, and added that due process must be followed.