ISLAMABAD: The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) barred the Islamabad High Court (IHC) from initiating contempt of court proceedings against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and federal ministers in Dr Aafia Siddiqui case.
A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Aminud Din Khan, on Wednesday heard federal government’s appeals challenging an IHC order, and issued notices to all parties involved.
A single bench of Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan on May 16, 2025 allowed Dr Fauzia Siddiqui to amend her petition, seeking release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui. The amended petition had sought a declaration that the government efforts for Dr Siddiqui’s release and repatriation constitute a constitutional obligation.
The federal government, in its reply, urged the IHC to set aside permission granted to Dr Fauzia to amend her petition, and maintained that the issue relates to foreign policy and international law. However, the IHC judge while hearing the case on July 21, 2025 issued contempt notices to the Prime Minister and the federal cabinet for not submitting the required report about why the government was refusing to sign an amicus brief, and supporting legal efforts in the United States in Aafia’s case.
The federal government also argued that the proposed amendments would exceed judicial authority and violate the finality of decided cases. It added that reopening a matter long concluded would contravene established legal principles.
The government had also informed the IHC that the prime minister in October 2024 sent a letter to the US president in support of clemency for DrAafia. A high-level delegation was also sent to the United States to explore prisoner transfer agreements. However, US authorities did not agree to any such arrangements, the federal government stated.
DrAafia, a Pakistani neuroscientist currently incarcerated in the United States, was sentenced to 86 years in prison on charges of attempted murder – a sentence significantly exceeding the US legal maximum of 10 years for the crime. She has served 16 years behind bars and has been separated from her children for more than two decades.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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