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Tag: Islamabad High Court

  • Petition in Islamabad High Court seeks action against ‘Lazawal Ishq’

    Petition in Islamabad High Court seeks action against ‘Lazawal Ishq’

    A petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the controversial reality TV show Lazawal Ishq, accusing it of airing inappropriate content.

    Chairman of the Aman Taraqqi Party, Muhammad Faiq, filed the petition, stating that the show Lazawal Ishq is promoting content that goes against the country’s religious and social values.

    The petition requests the court to direct the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to strictly monitor such indecent content on digital platforms. It also seeks the court’s guidance regarding the role of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII).

    Lazawal Ishq, hosted by Ayesha Omar, is based on the Turkish reality show Ask Odasi. The program features men and women living together in a villa, forming relationships, participating in games, while cameras record their interactions. Eventually, one couple emerges as the winner.

    After the release of the show’s teaser last month, backlash emerged swift and harsh. Some users called it a bold move for Pakistan’s entertainment industry, while others demanded a complete boycott and action against the producers.

    Some users referred to it as a dating show, but the Bulbulay actress clarified that it is not.

    PEMRA confirmed that it had received numerous complaints regarding the show. However, Lazawal Ishq has not been issued a license for television broadcasting in Pakistan. PEMRA clarified that its regulatory authority is limited to licensed channels, while the show is being aired on YouTube and other digital platforms.

    The show has released 13 episodes so far and, despite the criticism, it has also garnered millions of views.

  • Man accused of Rs 3 billion fraud gets bail for Rs100

    Man accused of Rs 3 billion fraud gets bail for Rs100

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has granted bail to Shahid Hussain Khawaja, a suspect in a Rs 3.2 billion sales tax fraud case, on a bond of just Rs 100.


    Geo’s Owais Yousafzai reports that during the hearing, Islamabad’s top court declared criminal proceedings of the Tax Department against co-accused Shahid Hussain as an abuse of power.


    Justice Babar Sattar ordered that a copy of the court’s decision be sent to the Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue.


    The court’s verdict states that the bank’s branch manager was arrested for assisting in opening an account of a power company in the branch. 


    However, the state did not present any evidence to prove the petitioner’s involvement in tax fraud.


    Additionally, the court argued that the Tax Department did not determine the tax due on the taxpayer, as per the law. 


    The department also arrested the petitioner in violation of the Lahore High Court (LHC) decision in the case. 


    It also initiated criminal proceedings despite being aware of the LHC decision.


    Justice Sattar emphasised that the tax department exceeded its powers by first initiating criminal proceedings, violating the constitutional rights of dignity and equality of the petitioner. Meanwhile, the authorities and tax officials violated the established law in an attempt to collect more tax.


    The IHC pointed out that, “It is a matter of shame that the magistrate who granted the remand and the court that rejected the bail did not take into account the provisions of the Sales Tax Act.” 


    The court also reprimanded the subordinate court for acknowledging the misleading actions of the tax department instead of protecting fundamental constitutional rights.


    In its judgment, the court clarified that the question of the legality of the criminal proceedings is not for it to decide. 


    However, it hoped that the trial court will take into account the legality of the action.
    The petitioner’s bail is granted in lieu of bonds of Rs 100 only. IHC directed Chairman FBR to distribute copies of its decision and those of LHC among tax officers. 


    The legal powers assigned to public officials should be exercised in accordance with the law, the court warned, as it concluded that “in case of a violation, the FBR and tax officers will face action for the misuse of powers.”

  • Court orders MDCAT retake; new date revealed

    Court orders MDCAT retake; new date revealed

    Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) to retake the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT). 

    The test is now scheduled to be held on December 30.

    Students appearing in the test will have to pay extra dues for the retake. 

    Already registered candidates who had earlier paid Rs8,000 for the test held in September will have to deposit Rs6,000, whereas candidates appearing in international test centres, i.e., in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, are required to pay Rs40,000 in fees.

     
    “In partial modification of earlier public notice dated 11-12-2024 by SZABMU, it is notified in compliance with the orders of IHC dated 18-12-2024 that the MDCAT-II, 2024 has been re-scheduled to be held on Monday, 30-12-2024,” says a notification issued on Thursday by Registrar SZABMU Professor Dr Shahabuddin. 

    The notification further stated, “The portal for payment of MDCAT-II, 2024 fee has been opened at www.szabmu.edu.pk. The last date for deposit of fee and online registration for the said exam is 24-12-2024 midnight. 


    Furthermore, all the candidates who want to appear in MDCAT-II 2024, are directed to regularly check the official website for updated information.”


    The step was taken after SZABMU held MDCAT on Sept 22 in Islamabad, AJK, and at two destinations out of the country, i.e., Saudi Arabia and UAE, and a number of candidates took their complaints to IHC.  The court then directed the university to retake the test within two weeks.


    After the court’s order, the university administration announced that the result would remain intact. 


    However, those who want to reappear in MDCAT can submit applications on its website.
    Initially, around 17,000 students submitted applications, and the university announced a test on November 24 but it got cancelled and rescheduled on December 14.

    However, that got cancelled, and the university announced the exam to be held on December 22. At the same time, the university filed an appeal against the retake of the test in the high court while offering grace marks to students instead of retaking the exam.

  • Islamabad High Court allows journalists to cover Imran Khan’s trial

    Islamabad High Court allows journalists to cover Imran Khan’s trial

    Hearing a petition challenging the ban on the media coverage of Imran Khan’s trial in jail, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) criticised prison administration for not letting journalists cover the court trial.

    A petition said that despite following the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), the jail administration barred them from covering the court trial.

    IHC Justice Mian Gul Hassan stated that trial court judges have the authority to regulate media instead of jail administration.

    Justice Hassan advised the jail administration to allow seven journalists appointed by the IHC to cover the court trial of former Prime Minister Pakistan Imran Khan.

    The court also advised journalists not to interview Imran Khan during court proceedings in jail.

  • US responds to Khan’s acquittal in cipher case

    US responds to Khan’s acquittal in cipher case

    The United States of America has reacted to the acquittal of founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan and the party’s vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case.

    US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller responded to a question about the case while addressing a press conference, saying that “The allegations against Imran Khan will be decided by Pakistan’s courts under their own laws.” 

    A day earlier, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) acquitted the former Prime Minister and the former foreign minister in the cipher case. Both had been accused of leaking state secrets in public after Imran Khan, then the Prime Minister, took a diplomatic cable to a rally and narrated the contents for the public.

    IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Auranzeb heard the case and announced the short verdict.

    What is ciphergate?  

    The issue first came to light less than a month before Imran Khan’s removal from the prime minister’s office on March 27, 2022, when the PTI founder waved a letter addressing a public rally, claiming that it’s a cypher sent from a country that wanted Khan removed, later revealed to be the United States.

    The former prime minister claimed, while addressing the public, that the letter was the reason for his ouster as Prime Minister.

    Initially, Khan didn’t reveal the name of the country, but after a few days, he blamed the United States for plotting against him. The convicted former prime minister alleged that Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Affairs Donald Lu was responsible for his removal.

    Since then, Imran and his party have blamed other people and forces for his removal, including former COAS General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa, Nawaz Sharif, Asif Ali Zardari and Saudi Arabia.

  • Islamabad High Court wants missing Kashmiri poet recovered in next four days

    Islamabad High Court wants missing Kashmiri poet recovered in next four days

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed the government on Tuesday to safely recover Kashmiri poet Ahmad Farhad.

    During the hearing, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani accepted Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan’s request to adjourn the hearing for the next four days and give time to the government to utilise resources for Farhad’s recovery.

    Justice Kayani asked the investigative officer about developments in the case. The officer told the court that he went to the spy agency’s office, but the sector commander was not there.

  • Islamabad High Court suspends notification of decrease in Naan and roti price

    Islamabad High Court suspends notification of decrease in Naan and roti price

    Islamabad High Court (IHC) has suspended a recent notification on the decrease in the price of roti and naan in the federal capital.


    The court has suspended the notification until May 6, seeking a detailed response from the parties on the upcoming hearing.


    Case proceedings


    The decision came during a hearing presided over by Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri in response to a petition from the Naanbai Welfare Association, highlighting concerns over the legality and jurisdiction of the notification. It was argued that the federal price control fell under the supervision of the prime minister only.


    The counsel for the district administration explained that by amending the law, district coordination officers were empowered to issue notifications.

    Additionally, the Controller General of Prices and Supplies is appointed by the federal government, along with the assistant controller, appointed by the competent officer of the government, are responsible for fixing prices in accordance with district administration representation.


    The lawyer of the petitioner objected that the section under which the notification was issued does not fall under the authority of the controller general.


    Comparison with Punjab


    The court also inquired about the price of 120-gramme roti in Punjab and that if it was available for Rs25. To this petitioner explained that it was from a provincial government, while in the capital, the flour was expensive and rents high.


    The Islamabad High Court consequently suspended the notification and adjourned the hearing until May 6.


    On April 14, the Punjab government slashed the price of roti, followed by a similar decision by the Islamabad administration.


    Following a notification issued by the capital’s district administration, the new price of roti was set at Rs16, while the price of naan was fixed at Rs20. This adjustment was applicable to both 120-gram roti and naan.

  • ‘Kisi ka koyi aur agenda hai…woh chief justice bun jayein’, CJ Isa says won’t allow attack on judiciary

    ‘Kisi ka koyi aur agenda hai…woh chief justice bun jayein’, CJ Isa says won’t allow attack on judiciary

    Justice Qazi Faez Isa has said during the hearing of Supreme Court’s Suo moto notice taken on the Islamabad High Court judges’ letter that, “There is zero tolerance on the independence of judiciary.”

    The hearing is being conducted by a seven-member SC bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and comprising six other judges — Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Musarrat Hilali and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan.

    CJP Isa remarked, “Judges must be sure that they are not in danger.” He also emphasized that he could not exercise contempt power in any other court because “the court which is in contempt will exercise this power itself.”

    Importantly, the lawyers had demanded a full court in the suo moto case to which CJP raised an important point that where were these lawyers when not a single meeting of the full court was conducted in four years.

    The chief justice said: “My colleagues and I will stand before any attack on the independence of judiciary.”

  • Notices issued to PTA and Information Ministry on closure of X

    Notices issued to PTA and Information Ministry on closure of X

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has taken a significant step in response to the closure of the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, in Pakistan. The court issued notices to the Ministry of Information and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) concerning the shutdown of the said platform within the country.

    IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq presided over the hearing of a petition challenging the closure of X, which has been mostly inaccessible in Pakistan since February 17, with users resorting to VPNs for access.

    During the hearing on the plea today, the IHC CJ asked: “Is X closed?”

    At this, the petitioner’s lawyer replied that X had been closed in Pakistan since February 17.

    “This matter was also before the Sindh High Court (SHC), what happened to it?” asked Justice Farooq.

    The lawyer disclosed that a similar matter is pending before SHC where a petition related to contempt of court is scheduled for a hearing today.

    Following these discussions, Justice Farooq announced the issuance of notices for the next week, indicating a significant development in the legal pursuit to address the closure of X in Pakistan.

    SHC Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi issued orders on a plea filed by multiple petitioners including Zarrar Khuhro, Amber Shamsi, Zebunnisa Burki, and others against intermittent disruptions faced by users in accessing the renowned social media platform which has witnessed various “unannounced” sporadic suspensions in recent weeks.

    The disruptions in accessing the platform have been a cause of distress for users, especially in the aftermath of the February 8 general elections, during which several social media sites were rendered inaccessible.

    While authorities attributed these disruptions to technical errors and security concerns during the polling day, users continued to experience intermittent suspensions in accessing X post-election.

    In a recent statement to a local media outlet, Information Minister Murtaza Solangi clarified that the caretaker government had no involvement in the shutdown of X in Pakistan.

    Solangi emphasized that the caretaker cabinet had not deliberated or decided on the closure of the microblogging website. He suggested directing inquiries regarding the matter to the Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

    With the legal proceedings underway in both the Islamabad High Court and the Sindh High Court, the fate of X in Pakistan hangs in the balance, while users await a resolution to ensure uninterrupted access to the popular social media platform.

  • Caretaker PM Kakar once again fails to appear in missing Baloch Students’ case

    Caretaker PM Kakar once again fails to appear in missing Baloch Students’ case

    Islamabad High Court (IHC) summoned Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar for the third time on Monday in the case of the missing Baloch students. The court’s orders came before adjourning today’s hearing until February 28.

    Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, heading the bench, emphasized during the hearing that the caretaker prime minister should not perceive appearing in court as an insult.

    He urged PM Kakar to prioritize appearing before the court rather than attending to other commitments, stating, “No one is above the law here.”

    Expressing disappointment over PM Kakar’s absence, Justice Kayani reminded Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan of the prime minister’s previous failure to attend court proceedings. The judge also inquired about the whereabouts of other caretaker ministers and secretaries.

    The judge highlighted that today was the 24th hearing in the case.

    “The petition was filed in 2022 and a commission had been formed. It took us two years to recover our citizens who did not even have any criminal case registered against them.

    “There was no case against them — including any drug, murder, or theft case — let alone a terror case,” Justice Kayani noted. He observed that “no documents or information” was shared with the court in the past two years.

    Addressing AGP Awan, he said, “You had submitted an affidavit that no person would go missing after today. [Yet] a person is missing from Islamabad’s F-6 without a first information report against him.

    “The purpose of summoning the prime minister was to inquire why the state’s premier is failing in his duties,” the IHC judge said.

    Interior Secretary Aftab Durrani eventually appeared before the court, addressing some concerns raised during the hearing.

    Previously, Justice Kayani issued a written order summoning PM Kakar, along with the defense and interior ministers and their respective secretaries, to ensure their physical presence in today’s hearing.

    During the hearing, Justice Kayani highlighted the ongoing struggle to recover missing individuals in the country, particularly the unresolved case of the 12 missing Baloch students.

    He pressed the Attorney General for details regarding ongoing criminal cases and the responsibility of state institutions in enforced disappearances.

    Concerns were raised about the inability of successive governments to address the issue adequately. Justice Kayani proposed forming an inquiry committee comprising representatives from relevant institutions to investigate the matter thoroughly.

    The judge also criticized the notion of granting exemptions to certain institutions and emphasized the importance of accountability.

    This is the second time PM Kakar has been summoned by the IHC. Previously, he was called upon on November 22, 2023, in a case filed by Advocate Imaan Mazari, but was unable to attend as he was out of the country.