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ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered that the petition challenging the appointment of District and Sessions Judge Nasir Javed Rana be fixed for hearing in the second week of November.
Justice Nasir Javed Rana, who presided over an accountability court in Islamabad earlier this year, convicted former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in a £190 million corruption case.
Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar on Friday considered a miscellaneous petition filed by petitioner Usama Riaz, seeking an expeditious hearing in the main case against the appointment of Justice Nasir Javed Rana.
The chief justice asked the petitioner’s counsel, advocate Riaz Hanif Rahi, what the issue was and whether it related to a 2004 order.
Lawyer Rahi replied that according to the Supreme Court’s decision of October 19, 2004, Nasir Javed Rana had been declared unfit for judicial service. His appointment as a judge was therefore illegal.
The lawyer said that the matter was related to the case of the late Habib-ul-Wahab-ul-Khairi and if he had been alive, he would certainly have implemented this decision; therefore, this petition has been filed.
The court, while directing that the hearing of the matter be scheduled for the second week of November due to the indisposition of CJ Dogar, adjourned the proceedings.
The petitioner contends that Nasir Javed Rana should be prevented from holding office and the notification of his appointment should be declared null and void.
It further clarifies that if the petition is decided after his retirement, all benefits and privileges obtained after December 14, 2022 should be withdrawn from him and he should not be considered entitled to any pension or other benefits.
