ISLAMABAD: Registrar of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Sardar Tahir Sabir and Deputy Registrar (Security) Awais ul Hassan challenged the contempt of court proceeding initiated by Justice Babar Sattar against them as they failed to make proper arrangements for lawyers’ entry to the court on May 9 in view of the strike called by the Pakistan Bar Council.

Registrar Sabir and Deputy Registrar Hassan filed an intra-court appeal before a division bench of the IHC, seeking to quash the contempt of court proceeding.

Justice Sattar on June 10 issued show cause notices to Registrar Sabir Hassan.

The judge took cognizance of this matter on the application of senior lawyer Naeem Bukhari seeking restoration of a case related to Gun and Country Club after its dismissal due to non-appearance of counsel.

Mr Bukhari accused incumbent Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) president of “physically restraining” the lawyer from entering the court premises during the May 9 strike.

IHCBA president Raisat Ali Azad, however, vehemently denied the accusation as the lawyers bodies also questioned the issuance of notices to them in a matter in which they were not even the party.

Justice Sattar, however, hinted at indicting Hassan in this matter.

The court order issued in the contempt proceeding against Registrar Sabir and Deputy Registrar Hassan termed the replies of both the senior officials of the IHC unsatisfactory.

The order explained that in his reply Hassan stated that he “merely acted as liaison between the police officers deputed on the premises of the court and the administration of the court”.

It stated that Hassan “failed to explain as how he formulated an opinion with regard to the CCTV footage on the basis of some report procured by the Moharrar posted at Islamabad High Court (IHC) without himself scrutinizing the CCTV footage on the basis of which he

submitted a report to the Registrar, Islamabad High Court and subsequently to this court stating that no obstruction was visible in the CCTV footage”.

The judge asked him to submit a “comprehensive response” with regard to the charge against him.

Regarding Registrar Sabir, the court order said that he “filed a justificatory response to the show cause notice with is found to be unsatisfactory.”

The court order states: “given that the respondent is approaching the twilight of his career, this court would allow him another opportunity to consider his position and file a considered response to the show cause notice.”

Justice Sattar also questioned under which authority he produced the minutes of the meeting of Administration Committee of the IHC.

Justice Sattar would resume hearing in this matter on August 20.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2024