Security at courts: The DIG begs to differ

Lawyers demand foolproof arrangements across lower courts

LAHORE: No concrete measures have been taken to ensure foolproof security across lower courts despite Lahore Bar Association (LBA) officials calling on Operations DIG Haider Ashraf.

The Express Tribune has learnt that no walkthrough gates have been installed at the district, Model Town and Cantt courts despite requests. It is also worthwhile to mention that proper arrangements have not been made to secure the car park of the new sessions court complex. Neither are vehicles entering and exiting the spot thoroughly checked nor have walkthrough gates been installed there.

LBA secretary Advocate Shahid Nawab Cheema told The Express Tribune that LBA representatives had met DIG Ashraf at the office of District and Sessions Judge Nazir Ahmed Gajana’s office and requested him to ensure foolproof security arrangements to be made. He said they had also raised the matter of the Model Town Court’s outer wall. Cheema said they had been assured that their demands would be looked into but no progress had been made in this regard. He said he would call on DIG Ashraf along with other LBA officials sometime over the week as security arrangements at lower courts were far from satisfactory.

Pakistan Bar Council coordinator Advocate Muhammad Muddassir Chaudhry expressed gloom over the situation. He said adequate security arrangements had not been made across lower courts. Chaudhry said the possibility of an untoward incident taking place there due to insufficient security could not be ruled out. He stressed the importance of taking concrete measures to remedy the lack of security.

Advocate Ghulam Mujtaba Chaudhry said these were issues that subordinate courts had been grappling with for long. He said several killings had taken place across lower courts owing to the absence of adequate security. Chaudhry said security was often tightened in the wake of a tragedy only to be relaxed later.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, DIG Ashraf confirmed that he had met LBA officials in this regard. He said policemen equipped with metal detectors were deployed across lower courts. DIG Ashraf said he was satisfied with security arrangements there. As far as the installation of walkthrough gates across the spots was concerned, he said, the demand was being looked into by pertinent authorities. He said the gates would be installed across lower courts soon.

However, DIG Ashraf said, ensuring foolproof security was not the responsibility of police alone. This, he said, was not a one-way street. DIG Ashraf said lawyers had made a habit of misbehaving when asked by policemen to be frisked.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 3^rd, 2016.