SHC tells police, Rangers to ensure security for judges

Meeting called in aftermath of unsuccessful attack on judge’s house

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) chief justice Sajjad Ali Shah directed on Wednesday the police and Rangers authorities to ensure security for citizens as well as judges.

The security meeting was called in the aftermath of Tuesday's failed grenade attack at the house of an SHC judge, Justice Nazar Akbar, in Defence Housing Authority Phase-V. An official, privy to the developments, told The Express Tribune that the chief justice took notice of the incident and called the provincial chief secretary, the home secretary and the heads of the provincial police and Rangers forces with their reports on the progress of investigation into the incident.

Later, the chief secretary, the home secretary, police IG, Rangers director-general (DG), District South SSP and other officers presented their reports in the meeting held on the SHC premises. According to the official, chief justice Shah reviewed the security provided to judges. The chief secretary, Muhammad Siddique Memon, informed the chief justice that a committee had already been constituted to conduct an inquiry into the incident in which a cracker was hurled outside the residence of Justice Akbar.

During his presentation to the chief justice, Rangers DG Major General Bilal Akbar said that the attack on Justice Akbar's house was a sequel of ongoing attacks at the check-posts of the paramilitary force in the city, the official reported.

The Rangers DG maintained that the suspects behind the attacks on the police and Rangers had been identified and will be tracked down soon. He assured that the paramilitary force is on top of its duties and are determined to maintain law and order in the city.

The newly appointed provincial police chief, Allah Dino Khawaja, pointed out that the police have obtained the video footage recorded by the closed-circuit television cameras installed in the area. The process of geo-fencing was underway, he said, adding that the security protocol for judges has also been increased. Any further directives on this issue will be promptly complied with, he assured.

After hearing their progress, chief justice Shah told the heads of the police and the paramilitary force to take steps to ensure the protection of citizens and judges.

SBC condemnation

Meanwhile, Sindh Bar Council's vice-chairperson Barrister Salahuddin Ahmed condemned the attack on Justice Akbar's house. He demanded the provincial government and law enforcers unmask the elements behind such acts and also ensure further security of the judges.

Lawyer's condemnation

The Sindh High Court Bar Association held a general body meeting where its members strongly condemned, what they called, was a cowardly attack of hurling a grenade at Justice Akbar's residence by unknown terrorists. "This is a heinous crime and is an attempt to undermine the judicial system and independence of judiciary," they stated in a resolution passed by the body.

The association requested the SHC chief justice to direct all the relevant agencies, including Military Intelligence, the Inter-Services Intelligence and Sindh Rangers, to investigate this cowardly act and make sure the culprits are arrested at the earliest.

They also demanded security for all SHC judges so that such incidents are not repeated in the future and judges are able to perform their duties.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2016.