TTP claims killing of additional sessions judge

Tahir Khan Niazi was killed when three unidentified attackers entered his house and opened fire

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan on Thursday claimed credit for killing a lower court judge in Rawalpindi, the insurgent group said in a statement, the latest in a series of attacks on civilians working for the criminal justice system.

Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation of 190 million people, is plagued by criminal gangs, sectarian militants and a Taliban insurgency.

Read: Additional sessions judge shot dead in Rawalpindi

Threats and attacks on civilian judges and lawyers prompted the government to set up secret military courts in February to try militant suspects, following a Taliban massacre of 134 children at an army-run school last December.

"Our special task force has targeted additional session judge Tahir Khan Niazi in Rawalpindi successfully," Taliban spokesperson Muhammad Khorasani said in an emailed statement. He did not say why Niazi was targeted.

Abdul Hafiz, a clerk at the sessions court in the city next to the capital, Islamabad, confirmed Wednesday's killing.

"Some people came to his home and fired on him," he said.

The government says militants usually walk free because civilians are too scared to convict them. Lawyers and judges agree security is a problem, but they also complain of outdated laws, poorly trained and poorly paid police, and political interference.

Read: ATC issues non-bailable warrants for TTP chief, former spokesperson

According to police officials the Additional District and Sessions Judge Tahir Khan Niazi, who hails from Mianwali, was attacked by unidentified men at around 1:30pm at his residence in Satellite Town. Following the shooting, Niazi was rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Later, the body was taken to District Headquarters Hospital for post-mortem.

City Police Officer (CPO) Israr Abbasi said three unidentified attackers entered the judge’s house and opened fire, adding they later escaped on a motorcycle. “A bullet hit the judge in the ribs and ultimately resulted in his death,” he said.