Islamabad High Court

The Supreme Court adjourned the hearing on Imaan Zainab Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha's plea challenging the Islamabad High Court's decision to deny their request for suspended sentences. The couple was sentenced to 17 years in jail under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act for social media posts criticizing security forces.

The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) recommended a six-month extension for Justice Khalid Hussain Shahani as an additional judge in the Sindh High Court (SHC) and proposed appointments for five vacant high court positions. It also considered nominations for the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and confirmed four additional judges as permanent judges in the provincial high courts after evaluations.

The Supreme Court ordered the Adiala jail to submit a report within three weeks detailing meetings between incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan and his visitors, including family, lawyers, and friends. Salman Akram Raja, PTI’s Secretary General, alleged Imran was kept in solitary confinement and suffers from an eye ailment, while legal proceedings challenge an Islamabad High Court order on visitation rights.

The Islamabad High Court issued notices to the Ministry of Communications and other respondents regarding a petition challenging a 50% higher motorway toll on vehicles with insufficient M-Tag balances. The court heard arguments that the policy was arbitrary and lacked legal justification, directing the ministry to respond to the petition.

The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) overturned earlier Supreme Court (SC) and Islamabad High Court (IHC) decisions that led to the demolition of Monal Restaurant and other establishments in Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP), calling it a 'grave miscarriage of justice'. The FCC ruled that the closure of these restaurants violated the Islamabad Wildlife Ordinance of 1979 and transferred administrative authority of the park to the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi challenged the Supreme Court registrar's refusal to entertain their petitions against the Islamabad High Court's April 30 order in the Al-Qadir Trust case. The couple seeks suspension of their sentences in a corruption case involving £190 million, where they were convicted of receiving funds and land from a real estate firm to settle liabilities instead of adding repatriated funds to the national treasury.

The Judicial Commission of Pakistan is set to select three judges for the Islamabad High Court on July 20, a process that has become politically sensitive due to opposition protests and demands from Islamabad lawyers to prioritize local legal professionals. The IHC administration submitted three nominees, but bar associations argue the candidates lack local lawyer support, prompting calls for appointments from the federal capital’s legal community.

The Islamabad High Court granted a final adjournment to Imran Khan's counsel in a £190 million corruption case, warning against further delays. The appeal stems from Imran's January 2025 conviction in the Al-Qadir Trust case by an accountability court.

The Supreme Court issued notices on pleas by lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha seeking an early hearing of their challenge to an Islamabad High Court (IHC) decision denying the suspension of their 17-year sentences under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca). The SC adjourned the matter to July 21, while the case stems from a 2025 complaint alleging they disseminated content aligned with hostile groups.

The National Highway Authority (NHA) has increased toll tax on the Islamabad-Lahore M-2 Motorway by 7% under a concession agreement with Motorway Operations and Rehabilitation Engineering (Private) Limited (MORE). The revised toll rates, effective until April 23, 2027, apply to various vehicle categories, while the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended an additional 50% toll for vehicles without valid M-Tags.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has finalized three candidates for vacant judge positions, with their names submitted to the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) for scrutiny under new 2026 rules. The JCP is expected to finalize appointments later this month after evaluating nominees, including District and Sessions Judge Shahrukh Arjumand, former Advocate General Ayyaz Shaukat, and advocate Umair Majeed Malik.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is demanding a third-party forensic audit of the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) Legal Facilitation Centre project due to concerns over cost overruns, unapproved variations, and transparency. The project’s cost has risen from Rs1.446 billion to over Rs2.07 billion, mirroring mismanagement issues seen in the main IHC building, which faced criticism for faulty infrastructure.

The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) has formed interview committees to vet candidates for high court judge appointments without including any Supreme Court judges. The panels, chaired by Federal Constitutional Court judges, include high court chief justices, the attorney general, senators, and a bar association representative for four high courts.

Telenor Pakistan has merged with Ufone to form Pak Telecom Mobile Limited (PTML), a PTCL subsidiary, following Islamabad High Court approval. The merged entity now holds 35.91% of Pakistan's mobile subscriber market, with integration of networks and services underway.

A victim of domestic violence has approached the Supreme Court to overturn the Islamabad High Court's acquittal of her in-law, Naheed Ahmed, who assaulted her in 2023. The case involves repeated violence by Ahmed, with prior allegations of similar offenses against another family member. Lower courts convicted Ahmed for hurt offenses, but the High Court acquittal prompted the Supreme Court appeal.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) reserved its verdict on the maintainability of petitions challenging the alleged solitary confinement of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi. The petitions, filed by Aleema Khan and Mubashara Khawar Maneka, were directed to be numbered after the IHC removed objections from the registrar office, with arguments highlighting precedents and international prison standards.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe issues with Islamabad's One Constitution Avenue project. The JIT, led by the National Accountability Bureau and including agencies like FIA and CDA, will report within 60 days. The project faced legal and financial disputes, including unpaid payments and unauthorized apartment sales, leading to evictions and court orders.

The Islamabad High Court dismissed contempt petitions by Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, allowing the defense two weeks to begin arguments in their appeals against a 2025 conviction in the Al-Qadir Trust case. The court noted that required powers of attorney had been signed, resolving the contempt issue, and set a deadline for the defense to proceed with appeals.

The Supreme Judicial Council dismissed a complaint against Islamabad High Court Judge Muhammad Asif, who was accused of influencing a hit-and-run case involving his son. The incident, which killed two girls, led to the son's release after the victims' families pardoned him under qisas and diyat provisions. A similar case involving a Lahore High Court judge's daughter in 2022 was also mentioned.

An elephant named Happy died at the Bronx Zoo in New York after over 50 years in captivity, sparking legal and moral debates about animal rights. The case intersected with discussions in the Islamabad High Court, where petitions involving animal welfare and human rights highlighted shared principles of life and dignity.

Aleema Khan filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) challenging the alleged solitary confinement of her brother, Imran Khan, and his wife, Bushra Bibi, describing the conditions as unlawful and inhumane. The petition names prison and accountability officials as respondents and claims Imran Khan has been isolated for 22 hours daily without judicial authorization, citing deteriorating eyesight as part of the inhumane treatment.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will hear appeals by Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi on June 29 regarding their convictions in the £190 million case involving UK NCA funds and Al-Qadir Trust land transfer. The appeals also include contempt petitions over delays in submitting signed powers of attorney, with conflicting claims between the defense and Adiala jail authorities.

The PTI party accused the Adiala jail administration of preventing Imran Khan's family and leaders from meeting him despite an Islamabad High Court order allowing twice-weekly visits. The jail administration was also criticized for misleading the court regarding power of attorney documents for Khan and his wife.

PTI interim chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Secretary General Salman Akram Raja requested a meeting with imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan at Adiala jail, as the Islamabad High Court addressed legal disputes over a power of attorney in a corruption case. The jail administration accused Imran Khan's legal team of misleading the court by not collecting the signed document before a hearing.

PTI leaders were denied permission to meet Imran Khan at Adiala jail despite court-allowed visiting hours. The party criticized the federal government's economic policies and called for reforms to address regional neglect and judicial delays in cases involving Khan and Bushra Bibi.

The Islamabad High Court referred a petition by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and Finance Adviser Muzammil Aslam to meet incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan for provincial budget consultations to the chief justice. The court noted that similar petitions regarding jail meetings with Imran Khan were already pending before a larger bench, and the petitioners argued the consultation was distinct due to its budget-related urgency.

The Supreme Court ordered Adiala jail superintendent and other officials to submit replies within three weeks regarding denial of access to Imran Khan. The court is reviewing a petition challenging the Islamabad High Court's dismissal of a contempt case seeking enforcement of visitation rights for Khan's legal team. The petition argues the high court failed to verify compliance with judicial directives and misapplied prison rules against constitutional rights.

The Islamabad High Court ordered the advocate general to arrange a meeting between Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, and their legal counsel within seven days to address appeals against their conviction in the £190 million reference. Imran's counsel cited denied access to the incarcerated former prime minister and lack of a signed power of attorney as obstacles to pursuing the appeals.

The Supreme Court will hear petitions regarding access to PTI founder Imran Khan by his legal team, physicians, and family while he is incarcerated at Adiala jail. Petitions challenge an Islamabad High Court decision dismissing requests for meetings and medical access, with arguments citing legal precedents and concerns about his well-being.

A luxury flat once owned by Imran Khan is at the center of a legal dispute in the Islamabad High Court. The court has restrained the Capital Development Authority from evicting buyers of One Constitution Avenue, including the purchaser of Khan’s apartment, amid a long-standing conflict over a defaulted lease agreement with builder BNP (Private) Limited.

PTI supporters staged a sit-in after Imran Khan’s sisters were denied access to Adiala jail. The Islamabad High Court had permitted family visits but implementation has stalled. Aleema Khan criticized the government, citing unresolved crises and called for public mobilization. Separately, the court ordered the FIA to explain a call-up notice issued to PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja over social media allegations.

Lawyers from Islamabad demanded that future appointments to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) be made from local lawyers, citing concerns over corruption in the district judiciary. They called for judicial reforms, accountability mechanisms, and transfers of district judges to other provinces, while opposing recent judicial commission decisions on appointments.

Imran Khan's sisters and PTI leaders were again denied a meeting with him at Adiala Jail, despite an Islamabad High Court order allowing twice-weekly visits. Aleema Khan, one of Imran's sisters, criticized the government's handling of political turmoil and highlighted suppressed voices in Gilgit-Baltistan, vowing to continue advocacy for Imran's release.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) ruled that the government cannot deny foreign postings to Trade and Investment Officers based on undisclosed intelligence reports, setting aside the Ministry of Commerce's decision. Candidates had completed all selection processes and received approval from the prime minister, but were rejected by a vetting agency's adverse assessment.