Aafia Siddiqui case scheduled for October 29 hearing in larger bench

TURBAT: A major development has been made in the case related to the release and repatriation of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui.

The Islamabad High Court has scheduled the case for hearing before a larger bench.

According to the cause list issued by the Registrar’s Office, the case will be heard on October 29.

The High Court has constituted a four-member larger bench on the matter, which will be headed by Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, while Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro, Justice Azam Khan and Justice Raja Inam Amin Minhas are part of the bench.

The previous hearing on the Aafia Siddiqui case was cancelled due to the unavailability of one of the bench members. Later, on September 1, Justice Inam Amin Minhas sent the file to the Chief Justice and recommended that the case be handed over to a larger bench.

This case was earlier under hearing in the court of Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan. Justice Ijaz Ishaq had issued contempt of court notices to the Prime Minister and cabinet members during the previous hearing.

Later, after Justice Ijaz Ishaq was added to the Special Division Bench for tax cases, the single bench cases under his jurisdiction were transferred to other judges.

Sources say that the case related to Aafia Siddiqui’s release and repatriation is being described as important, and a report is likely to be sought from the relevant government agencies in the upcoming hearing.