Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday remarked, during hearing of a contempt plea against Justice Saman Riffat Imtiaz, that only Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) can take action against a serving judge or chief justice.
Justice Soomro heard a case, along with objections of registrar office, against suspension of the license of lawyer Kulsoom Khaliq and sending the reference to the Islamabad Bar Council (IBA).
The petitioner’s lawyer Kulsoom Khaliq, appeared in the court in his personal capacity.
She argued that Justice Saman Riffat Imtiaz gave an observation against her in contradiction of law. My name was included in the list of licenses of the Supreme Court but after the court observation, I could not get the license.
She prayed the court to initiate contempt of court action against single bench.
Justice Soomro said that a contempt of court application case has been filed against a serving judge. He questioned that can a judge take action against another judge.
Lawyer Kalsoom Khaliq referred to the decision of the Division Bench in the Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri case.
The court remarked that this decision has been declared null and void by a five-member bench of the Supreme Court. Justice Soomro said whether it will be appropriate If we take action against each other for contempt of court.
He remarked that each judge has his own method of conducting the court, adding that we cannot issue directions to any judge.
The lawyer said that the single bench gave an observation against me while three judges including the Chief Justice were in the interview committee. After the observation of Justice Saman Riffat, I could not get a license from the Supreme Court, she said. Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro said that we will issue an order on this.
Services of three judges from KP handed over to IHC
The Services of three additional district and session judges from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been handed over to Islamabad’s lower judiciary on Thursday.
The Services of Additional District and Sessions Judges Asmatullah, Hasina Saqlain and Maryam Shehryar have been given to the Islamabad High Court on deputation for three years.
IHC’s Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar gave the responsibilities of the three judges in Islamabad District Courts.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Asmatullah was posted to Sessions Division East Islamabad while Additional District and Sessions Judge Hasina Saqlain was posted to Sessions Division West Islamabad.
Likewise, Civil Judge Maryam Shehryar was posted to Sessions Division West Islamabad.
The Registrar Office IHC issued separate notifications regarding it.