IHC constitutes larger bench in Dr Aafia Siddiqui case

Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has constituted a four-member larger bench to hear a petition filed by DrFowziaSiddiqui seeking the release of her sister, DrAafiaSiddiqui, from a US jail.
The larger bench will be headed by Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, with Justice KhadimHussainSomroo, Justice Azam Khan, and Justice Raja Inam Amin Minhas as members.
According to the cause list, the hearing on the petition is scheduled for September 10.
On September 1, Justice InamAmeenMinhas referred the case file to the chief justice, recommending the formation of a larger bench after he recused from hearing the case.
Previously, the case was being heard by Justice SardarEjazIshaq Khan, who had issued contempt notices to the prime minister and cabinet members for non-compliance with court directions.
However, after Justice Ejaz was assigned to the special division bench for tax cases, his single bench cases, including this one, were transferred.
The case relates to the federal government’s failure to act on judicial instructions regarding efforts for the repatriation of DrAafiaSiddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist imprisoned in the United States.