IHC reserves verdict on judge suspension

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday reserved its decision on the admissibility of an intra-court appeal (ICA) against the single bench's decision to dismiss the petition seeking suspension of judge Nasir Javed Rana.

It may be mentioned here that judge Rana had delivered the verdict in the 190 million pound NAB case.

The court remarked that it will issue an order on the petition after hearing the arguments of the counsel for the petitioner.

A division bench comprising Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro and Justice Muhammad Asif heard the ICA against the single bench's decision which dismissed the petition for the suspension of Sessions Judge Rana.

Osama Hanif's lawyer Riaz Hanif Rahi appeared in the court and argued that there was a writ petition against the judge and there was an order of the Supreme Court.

He read out the Supreme Court's decision and said that the notification of the appointment of judge Rana was issued under the jurisdiction of the IHC. The judge was appointed here for three years but he is still performing his duties here, he said.

Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro asked that whether a writ petition could be filed against any judicial officer. The lawyer replied that a case against Justice Tariq Jahangiri had been heard.

The court remarked that the case had been remanded back by the Supreme Court.

How did you come to this forum to remove a judicial officer in the presence of MIT? the judge asked.

Justice Soomro asked the counsel whether he had approached the Supreme Court, to which he replied that he had brought a "clear case", and that there was no need to go to the apex court.

Justice Soomro remarked that they would issue an order on it.