The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday issued notices to the secretary interior and senior officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the police and sought their replies in the former prime minister Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi case. Bushra, in her petition, had prayed to the court to order the concerned departments to provide her with details of the cases registered against her as well as not to arrest her in any new case besides allowing her to approach a relevant court for justice. IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Justice Aamer Farooq heard the former first lady’s petition. The court then adjourned the case’s hearing until next week. On the other hand, hinting at the formation of a larger bench to hear the petition filed by PTI leader Ali Bukhari against the Election Amendment Act, the IHC CJ on Wednesday summoned the attorney general of Pakistan (AGP) to assist the court in deciding the case.

Justice Farooq also issued notices to the Ministry of Law and the Election Commission of Pakistan and sought their replies within 10 days. Giving arguments on behalf of the petitioner, his counsel Shoaib Shaheen Advocate said that a section had been inserted in the Act so that a retired judge could head the tribunal formed to hear the complaints of losing candidates in the general elections held on February 8, 2024. “Under the section, consulting a high court’s chief justice for the appointment of a retired judge is no longer mandatory,” he said, and requested the court for the formation of a larger bench or division bench to hear the case. The chief justice asked him to wait till the respondent submitted his reply following which he would form a larger bench. The court then directed that the case’s next hearing be fixed after 10 day.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan