The Islamabad High Court has accepted an application seeking removal of Civil Judge Asim Hafeez whose wife is the main accused in housemaid Rizwana torture case. IHC Chief Justice, Justice Aamer Farooq on Wednesday conducted proceedings on the petition filed by President Civil Society, Islamabad chapter, Abdullah Malik. Accepting the plea for hearing, the court issued notices to the Federal Government and Advocate General Office. During the hearing, CJ Farooq called Deputy Attorney General Ahsan Raza and the state attorney to the rostrum. The judge remarked that though the matter of removing a civil judge is an administrative affair, we could look at the judicial side too.

We have received a detailed application in this regard, the CJ said adding that the Federation must look into the cases of torture on children and child labour. He said before this case, several other cases including the little Tayyaba torture case came to light. Saying this, the judge issued notices to the Federation and AG office. The state counsel requested the court to provide him with a copy of the application so that he court prepare his arguments.

Later, the Islamabad High Court adjourned the case for an indefinite period of time. Civil Judge Asim Hafeez’s wife Somia Asim is currently on judicial remand in the Rizwana torture case. And the Lahore High Court has made Civil Judge Asim an OSD following his wife’s trial. The torture case attracted wide media attention due to the involvement of a judge’s wife.Last month, Rizwana, who used to work as a domestic help at Civil Judge Asim Hafeez’s house in Islamabad, was brought to the District Headquarters Hospital in Sargodha in critical condition reportedly with wounds on her face, head, and body that were said to have been caused by a “blunt weapon” allegedly by the wife of the judge. The girl also bore burn marks on her body and fractures in her arms and legs.She was later shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at the Lahore General Hospital, where she is still taking medical treatment.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)