Justice Siddiqui had also ordered the government to enhance the security details provided to Chaudhry to that given to former presidents and prime ministers. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday ordered the government to immediately provide a bullet-proof car to former chief justice (CJ) of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry along with adequate security.
Disposing of a petition regarding the provision of adequate protection to the former chief justice of Pakistan, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui asked the government to ensure that the security provided to Justice Chaudhry was at par with former presidents and prime ministers.
During the course of the hearing, an Interior Ministry official informed the court that the government had removed the term “official use” from its notification for the provision of a bulletproof vehicle to the former chief justice.
Siddiqui remarked that if former prime ministers could be given bulletproof cars, the former CJ should also be provided one. The justice observed that security provided to the former CJ was inadequate.
The official informed the court that the government had provided bullet-proof vehicles to former prime ministers including Yousaf Raza Gilani, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in the past.
During the last hearing, the court had expressed displeasure over the notification and sought an explanation for the term “official use,” since the former CJ did not hold a government office. He said that since the former CJ was no longer a government official, his family should also be allowed to use the state-provided car.
Justice Siddiqui had also ordered the government to enhance the security details provided to Chaudhry to that given to former presidents and prime ministers.
The petition had been filed by former Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) president Sheikh Ahsanuddin and incumbent president Taufeeq Asif.
It referred to ex-president Pervez Musharraf’s security by stating that the government was providing a person who abrogated the constitution with 1,100 security officials, whereas the person who upheld it had been provided with only four.
The petitioner also argued that the former CJ had decided many cases against influential persons and should thus be provided with high-level security.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2014.
COMMENTS (2)
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On what legal grounds?
accoeding to the law of the land the former CJ is entitled to one police constable. The IHC judge Shoakat Aziz Sadiqqui has gone berserk and issuing orders above his capacity. A reference should have been moved agains him to the judicial commission for his removal. Its the police duty to provide a security to a person based on risks to his life and the judge of Islamabad High Court.