ISLAMABAD: An application seeking early hearing of a pending case pertaining to appointment of Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges was filed in the Supreme Court here on Thursday.

The application was filed by the petitioner Nadeem Ahmad advocate through his senior counsel Muhammad Akram Sheikh. The applicant submitted that on last hearing of the petition, which was held on November 22, the Supreme Court had directed the attorney general Irfan Qadir that if the presidential reference against the appointment of IHC judges was not filed within two weeks, then the petition of Nadeem Ahmad advocate would be taken up for hearing and decided.

The applicant stated that two weeks had lapsed after that order, however the presidential reference was not filed yet, thus the pending petition deserved to be heard as early as possible. He requested the court to fix December 10 for hearing the pending petition.

He said despite fulfilling the constitutional process, non issuance of notification, for extension in the tenure of IHC judges, by the President was against the norms of justice. He said government was using delaying tactics to prolong the case.

On last hearing of the case, attorney general had told the court that President Asif Ali Zardari had decided to file reference with the apex court in the matter of appointment of IHC judges, thus the hearing may be stopped. The court then had directed him to file such reference within two weeks, otherwise the petition would be heard and decided on merit.