Islamabad High Court has fined three government departments Rs. 500,000 each for their petitions related to the audio leaks case. The court also warned of potential contempt of court proceedings against Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
The case, which has garnered attention, involves a dispute over the bench hearing the audio leaks case. Separate petitions were filed by the aforementioned departments, as well as the Intelligence Bureau. Notably, the court summoned the Joint Director General of the Intelligence Bureau, Tariq Mehmood, for the next hearing.
At least four government departments sought to have the matter placed before the same bench that had previously decided a similar issue. They argued that the petitions of prominent figures like Bushra Bibi and Najamul Saqib should be heard by the bench that handled a similar case in 2021, raising concerns about potential conflicting decisions.
The petitions, being heard by Justice Babar Sattar, come amidst allegations of interference by intelligence agencies in the judiciary’s functions. The judiciary itself has expressed concern, with six IHC judges, including Justice Sattar, writing to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) about alleged intimidation and interference.
