Justice Babar Sattar of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday threw out the miscellaneous petitions, filed by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) with Rs500,000 fine each, seeking his separation from the bench hearing the petition filed by Bushra Bibi, wife of former prime minister and ex-PTI chairman Imran Khan, in audio leaks case, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The judge also hinted at initiating contempt of court proceedings against all three of them.

Justice Sattar also summoned the Intelligence Bureau (IB) Joint Director General in person.

Addressing the petitioners’ lawyers, he asked them as to who had directed them to file the petitions.

Additional Attorney General (AAG) Munawar Iqbal Duggal told the judge the objection was that he, along with five other judges of the high court, had written a letter in which they had accused the country’s intelligence agencies of interfering in the affairs of the judiciary.

Justice Sattar asked what the FIA had to do with the case concerning the ISI. “There was no mention of the FIA in the letter,” he reminded.

“Do you mean to say that the FIA has to do with the installation of cameras at judges’ homes as was stated in the letter?” he questioned.

The AAG admitted that the Authority was not an intelligence agency.   

Reporter: Ihtesham Kiani