Fact-check: Viral claims about Justice Babar Sattar's resignation and US travel are false

Social media in Pakistan is abuzz with rumours that Justice Babar Sattar of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has taken a two-month leave to travel to the United States, from where he has allegedly submitted his resignation as a judge.

This claim is entirely false.

Claim

On October 1, a user on X — formerly Twitter — claimed: "Big news! The American citizen judge, Justice Babar Sattar of the Islamabad High Court, used the excuse of a holiday to travel to the US for two months, from where he has submitted his resignation. He has no plans to return to Pakistan."

On the same day, a similar post appeared on X, amassing over 84,000 views and more than 690 reposts, fuelling belief in the false information.

The claims were also circulated on Facebook and in WhatsApp groups.

Fact

Justice Babar Sattar has neither resigned from his position nor is he in the United States, according to court officials and a journalist. He also does not hold American citizenship.

Sardar Tahir Sabir, the registrar of the Islamabad High Court, refuted the claims. “There is nothing like this,” Sabir told Geo Fact Check over the phone, confirming that the judge remains in Pakistan.

Asif Iqbal, the public relations officer (PRO) at the Islamabad High Court, also stated that no resignation had been received. He added that Justice Sattar was on a one-month leave, further sharing an official notification dated September 26, which granted him leave from September 30 to October 29.

Geo News journalist Awais Yousafzai, who regularly reports on the Islamabad High Court, confirmed that the resignation rumours were unfounded.

"The news about his resignation is false,” he said, adding that the judge is still in Pakistan.

Additionally, viral claims suggesting that Justice Babar Sattar holds American citizenship are also incorrect.

A press release from the Islamabad High Court in April clarified that the judge has "never held any nationality other than that of Pakistan."

The statement can be read here.

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