Top judges seek increased security

CJP asks police to take steps for recovery of Owais Shah

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Anwar Zaheer Jamali has directed all chief secretaries and provincial police chiefs to take measures for devising effective system for the security of judges and their families.

The CJP has also directed to take steps for the safe recovery of the Sindh High Court top judge’s son Barrister Owais Ali Shah, who was abducted last month from an upscale neighbourhood of Karachi.

Justice Jamali issued these instructions on Monday during a high-powered meeting, held to review the security measures taken so far for the security of courts in general and judges of superior courts in particular and safe recovery of Barrister Owais.

The meeting was attended by senior most judges of the Supreme Court, chief justice of Federal Shariat Court, chief justices of all high courts, federal secretary interior, all chief secretaries and provincial inspectors general of police (IGPs), chief commissioner and Islamabad’s IGP.

During the meeting, the officials individually briefed the chair about the security measures, arrangements and force deployed for the security of judges and their families in all provinces as well as at Islamabad.

They also discussed in detail the different ways and means to enhance security of judges and capacity building of police force to deal with such security issues.

Judges of the Supreme Court, chief justices of Federal Shariat Court and high courts also put forward their suggestions and reservations.

They also underlined the need to take precautionary measures to beef up security of judges and employ resources to enhance the capacity of the police to cope with the emerging security challenges. They suggested that police must be equipped with modern technologies and techniques to bolster security.

The CJP directed the federal secretary of interior to bring the outcome of this meeting to the knowledge of government and formulate short term and long term policies to take concerted efforts to deal with the issue.

JCP proposes appointment of five additional judges

Meanwhile, Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) has proposed three names to be appointed as additional judges at Balochistan High Court (BHC) and two names for the Peshawar High Court (PHC). The JCP meeting was held on Monday.

The sources told The Express Tribune that the commission has approved the appointment of Abdullah Baloch, Zaheeruddin Kakar, Syed Anwar Aftab at the BHC as additional judges. Likewise, the JCP has also recommended names of Ibrahim Khan and Ishtiaq Ibrahim for appointment as additional judges at the PHC.

Earlier, the PHC Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel initiated the names of Ibrahim Khan, Ishtiaq Ibrahim, Sohail Akhtar, Muzammil Khan and Mian Hussain Ali. It is learnt that Sohail Akhtar is the brother of an apex court judge.

Likewise, the BHC Chief Justice Muhammad Noor Meskanzai proposed names of Abdullah Baloch, Zaheeruddin Kakar, Syed Anwar Aftab and Nazeer Ahmad Langove.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2016.