Ihc Rules Aafia Siddiqui Case Contempt Notices Void In Islamabad

On February 23, 2026, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ruled that a previous order regarding the high-profile case of Aafia Siddiqui, issued by Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, was void due to lack of jurisdiction. The larger bench, led by Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas, emphasized that judicial benches derive their authority strictly from the roster approved by the chief justice, stating, "Any departure from this framework would undermine institutional order and risk judicial anarchy." This ruling stemmed from a controversial hearing on July 21, 2025, where Justice Khan, despite being on leave, convened court proceedings and initiated contempt proceedings against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the federal cabinet for not supporting Siddiqui's legal efforts in the U.S. The bench clarified that a judge cannot self-assign cases or operate outside the approved roster, reinforcing that the chief justice is the "master of the roster" with exclusive authority to constitute benches and allocate cases (Nukta Pakistan, Tribune Latest, Geo Business).