The Islamabad High Court on Friday imposed a fine of Rs200,000 on Advocate Siraj Ahmed after finding that he had wasted judicial time with a frivolous and meritless petition. Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro directed that the sum be deposited in the national exchequer.
Until the fine is paid, the court ordered that the petitioner may not enter the High Court’s administrative or judicial branches. He may still come onto the premises only to appear in matters that are already fixed for hearing.
Why the petition was rejected
The court recorded that the petitioner offered no satisfactory replies to objections about whether the petition could even be maintained. He also failed to show that the dispute was already pending before Bench I of the High Court, as claimed.
In the order, the bench described the drafting as extremely frivolous and below the standards expected for legal pleadings and court procedure. The judge further remarked that the lawyer’s conduct was unsuitable both when the application was prepared and when he appeared in court.
Prior warnings and bar notices
The Islamabad High Court noted that it had earlier shown restraint over similar behaviour by the same lawyer in another matter. It observed that he had repeatedly shown a frivolous approach when preparing petitions and arguing his own personal cases.
Directions were issued to send a copy of the judicial order to the Islamabad High Court Bar Association, the Islamabad Bar Council, and the District Bar Association. Those bodies regulate advocacy practice in the capital and can take note of the court’s findings.
What the order means in practice
For now, the immediate consequence for Advocate Siraj Ahmed is financial and practical: he must pay Rs200,000 into the national exchequer, and his day-to-day access to High Court offices and benches remains limited until that payment is made. The hearing-only exception allows him to continue appearing where dates are already fixed, but not to move freely through the court’s administrative and judicial wings.
The ruling underscores how high courts in Pakistan treat petitions that lack legal foundation or proper drafting: such filings can draw costs payable to the state and restrictions aimed at protecting court time for cases that meet procedural requirements.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Islamabad High Court ne wakil Siraj Ahmed par 2 lakh rupay ka jurmana lagaya hai. Court ne kaha ke unhon ne be-faida aur kamzor darkhwast daal kar waqt zaya kiya. Jab tak yeh raqam khazane mein jama nahi hoti, woh High Court ke aksar hison mein dakhil nahi ho sakte, sirf sunwayi wali cases ke liye. Yeh faisla ordinary logon ke liye is liye zaroori hai ke court ka waqt asal masail ke liye bache.
