The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has transformed a plea seeking the dismissal of Civil Judge Asim Hafeez concerning the alleged torture of a teenage housemaid employed at his residence into a writ petition. To assist the court in this matter, the court has appointed lawyers Faisal Siddiqui, Zainab Janjua, and Maryam Salman as amicus.
The court has issued notices to the federation, represented by the Ministry of Human Rights and the Ministry of Interior, requesting a report on the actions taken or contemplated on this issue.
Furthermore, Chief Justice Aamer Farooq of the IHC has issued a written order from the previous hearing, putting the Islamabad Chief Commissioner on notice. The court observed that the allegations made in the petition require serious action.
Moreover, the court order stated, “The allegations presented in the writ petition demand careful consideration and action from government officials to address child labor in general and to curb the employment of minors, particularly as domestic aides.”
The court will hear the case in the third week of September.
IHC Rejects Elahi’s Plea Of Contempt Against ICT Officials
Previously, the IHC has disposed of former Punjab chief minister Pervez Elahi’s petition seeking contempt of court action against the Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Deputy Commissioner (DC).
Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri took up the plea. During the hearing, the court noted a distinction between releasing Elahi and subsequently re-arresting him in another case.
The court did not issue any orders preventing Elahi from being arrested in another case, Justice Jahangiri remarked. He stated that not releasing Elahi in the MPO case would be contempt of court.
Elahi’s counsel, Sardar Abdul Razzaq, argued that the LHC had issued orders prohibiting authorities from arresting Elahi again. In response, the judge recommended filing the contempt petition before the LHC.
Elahi’s counsel named the Islamabad IGP, DC, SSP Operations, and Shalimar Police Station SHO as respondents in the petition. He sought to initiate contempt of court proceedings against the relevant officers and called for departmental action against them.
Elahi has faced multiple arrests and detentions since the May 9 riots.
