Larger benches were established to hear contempt cases over malicious campaigns against judges

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday constituted two larger benches to hear the contempt cases of “malicious campaign” against Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Akhtar Mohsin Kayani, ARY News reported.

According to the court docket, IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq will head the single bench that also consists of Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir.

The other larger bench consisted of Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri and Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan.

The IHC will take up contempt of court cases on Thursday (May 9).

Justice Babar Sattar had written a letter to the Chief Justice of the IHC regarding the social media campaign against him.

Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Akhtar Mohsin Kayani are among the six IHC judges who have complained of interference in judicial matters by the country’s intelligence apparatus.

Earlier, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) condemned the “malicious campaign” against Judge Babar Sattar on social media, in which the judge’s confidential information and documents were leaked online.

In a statement, the court said those behind the campaign against Judge Sattar not only leaked the travel documents of Sattar, his wife and his children, but also accused him of hiding assets in both Pakistan and the US.

“As part of the malicious campaign, the confidential information was posted and reposted on social media, including travel documents of the Honorable Judge, his wife and children,” the press release said.

Read more: IHC initiates contempt proceedings over a social media campaign targeting Judge Babar Sattar

“Judge Babar Sattar has never held any nationality other than that of Pakistan,” the IHC clarified, adding that although Sattar worked as a lawyer in New York and was granted a green card, “he left his job in the US in 2005 and returned . to Pakistan and has been living and working in Pakistan ever since.”

The campaign also leaked details of properties declared in the judge’s tax returns, “accompanied by unlawful and malicious allegations,” the press release said.

The court noted that the Judicial Commission of Pakistan thoroughly investigated Judge Sattar’s assets in Pakistan and the US before his appointment as a judge.