ISLAMABAD: After objections were raised to an Islamabad High Court (IHC) bench formed to hear former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry’s appeal against the interim decision of a trial court in a defamation suit against former prime minister Imran Khan, Justice Babar Sattar has been removed from the bench on Saturday.
Chaudhry filed his appeal in the court challenging the decision in the Rs20 billion suit against Khan. To hear his appeal, the court formed a bench which was consisted of Justice Sattar and Justice Miangul Hassan.
But Chaudhry raised an objection over the inclusion of Justice Sattar in the bench saying he has through his opinion articles criticised his “judicial activism”.
In his plea, the former judge requester the court it was appropriate if Justice Sattar would recuse himself from the case. Subsequently, the IHC formed a new bench comprising Justice Hassan and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir.
The bench will hear the case on February 9.
Khan had levelled vote-rigging allegations on Chaudhry during the 2013 general elections.
As the matter is sub judice in the high court, the sessions court has postponed its proceedings on the case.
