Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain

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

Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain
ابُو الحسنات ذُوالقرنین
Personal details
NationalityPakistan Pakistani

Career

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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

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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]

References

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