IHC dismisses contempt plea against Justice Saman Rafat

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has dismissed a contempt of court petition filed against Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz.

IHC Judge Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro issued a written order declaring Advocate Kulsoom Khaliq’s petition inadmissible. The judgement also upheld the registrar office’s objections on the petition.

The court said it dismissed the petition but refrained from imposing a heavy fine on the petitioner, citing restraint.

The court observed that the proper forum for proceedings against a judge is the Supreme Judicial Council, noting that Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz had merely made observations and had not issued any enforceable order.

The judgment stated that the petitioner had made several individuals holding constitutional offices respondents in the contempt plea.

The court said that no person occupying a constitutional position can be made a party to a case unless concrete evidence exists against them.

The IHC further observed that no sitting judge of a superior court is competent to initiate contempt proceedings against another serving judge, adding that such proceedings are not maintainable.

The court concluded that the petitioner’s plea was based on a misunderstanding, lacked credible material, and fell outside the constitutional jurisdiction.

The case was therefore ordered to be disposed of for failure to address the registrar’s objections.