Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain Explained

Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain
Nationality: Pakistani

Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain (ur|{{Nastaliq|ابُو الحسنات محمد ذُوالقرنین), is a Pakistani jurist who is a District and Sessions Judge in the service of Islamabad Judicial Service.[1]

Career

Prior to his appointment as a judge in the District and Sessions Court, Zulqarnain served as a judge in an Anti-Terrorism Court.[2]

In December 2022, he was appointed to a three-year deputation by the Lahore High Court (LHC), during which his services were placed at the disposal of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).[3] He succeeded Yar Mohammad Gondal as the special judge of the banking court in Islamabad.[4]

Zulqarnain is facing allegations of misconduct, which may result in his repatriation to his parent department, the Lahore High Court (LHC). The Islamabad High Court (IHC) initiated this process following a contentious judicial decision and observations, wherein he granted an adjournment to a defendant in a bail petition, leading to discrepancies in the case proceedings.[5]

Cases

He presided over the cypher case involving former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan and former Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mehmood Qureshi at Adiala Jail.[6] On January 30, 2024, he sentenced both individuals to ten years in prison.[7] In June 2024, his decision was dismissed by the Islamabad High Court.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Islamabad High Court. Islamabad High Court.
  2. News: PTI chief's interim bail extended in different cases. Fazal. Sher. July 11, 2023. Business Recorder.
  3. https://www.dawn.com/news/1727041
  4. https://www.dawn.com/news/1727041
  5. https://www.dawn.com/news/1829284
  6. News: Cypher case: Court allows Rawalpindi police to conduct probe from IK, Qureshi. Fazal. Sher. October 28, 2023. Business Recorder.
  7. Web site: Pakistan's Khan handed 10-year sentence for leaking classified cable. January 30, 2024. Yahoo! News.
  8. https://www.dawn.com/news/1837519/major-boost-for-pti-as-ihc-acquits-imran-qureshi-in-cipher-case