Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Babar Sattar is reportedly planning to take another extended leave, beginning potentially on November 4.
While the IHC duty roster lists him as available next week, sources indicate he will resume duties on October 30, working until November 1 before taking a fifteen-day leave.
These developments come amidst ongoing controversies surrounding Justice Sattar. Sources claim his leave is partly due to dissatisfaction with certain amendments to the constitution related to the judiciary. Earlier this year, he was among six judges who wrote to the Supreme Judicial Council detailing alleged harassment by intelligence officials.
Justice Sattar is also presiding over a high-profile audio leaks case, which has revealed the existence of a mass surveillance system, the “National Intelligence Management System,” used to monitor citizens. During the case proceedings, he filed a complaint with the IHC Chief Justice, alleging he was being targeted for his stance in the case.
Read more: Justice Sattar doesn’t have dual nationality, says IHC
Justice Sattar previously petitioned Lahore High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq for contempt of court proceedings after his personal details, including his US residency permit, were posted online.
He highlighted the violation of his family’s privacy, with their identity cards and permanent resident cards uploaded to social media. The Lahore High Court subsequently directed the Federal Investigation Agency to take action against those responsible for disseminating Justice Sattar’s private data.
