Woman threatens self-immolation after meeting with CJ denied

LAHORE: A woman threatened self-immolation at the Lahore Supreme Court Registry after she managed to breach the first line of security and sprinkled kerosene over herself. The chain of events transpired as Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar was about to leave the premises.

Others, whose cases had not been heard for a long time, were also protesting outside the court.

Hassina Bibi demanded a meeting with the CJP as her property had been occupied by land grabbers and she was moving from pillar to post to be heard. “Give me justice. I have to meet the chief [justice] for that,” said Hassina as she was being bundled into a police van.

The woman tried to free herself from the police and managed to get out of the van. However, all her efforts were in vain and she was finally taken to the police station concerned. The other protesters, who first came forward to help the woman, soon backtracked for fear of arrest.

The police officials deployed at the whistled out for backup, while officials took their position to seemingly clear the road. They adopted a rough tone with some motorists who were being forced to leave the area immediately.

Another family sensed the CJP was about to leave the court premises and tried to cross the first layer of security to stop his vehicle. They were hoping to express their grief, but security officials kept them at bay.

The husband, wife and their three daughters wept outside the court as they were not being allowed appear before the country’s top judge. They claimed that a land grabber named Nawaz Butt had occupied their 10-marla property in Sabzazar Iqbal Town. The family added that neither was their property being vacated nor were they being heard on any forum.

Police officials showed no leniency, while court staffers did not allow them to enter into court premises, saying their case will be heard in Islamabad. The family said they were financially disadvantaged and could not afford to go to Islamabad. Ultimately, the court staffers received the applications and directed them to go to Islamabad.

“The chief justice is the judge of the Pakistani nation and we hoped he would hear and see our family’s pathetic condition,” said Fatima bibi.  She also hoped to get the roof over her head returned to her rightful possession. “He is not only the CJP of a specific class. He is the CJP of the whole nation of Pakistan. How can a poor person be stopped from meeting with his or her CJP, especially when no one else is ready to hear them?”

As the top judge’s motorcade came onto the road, litigants with placards tried their best to cross the layers of security. At first the motorcade slowed down, giving some of the protesters hope that he may be stepping out of the vehicle. However, the convoy continued on.

The protesters finally dispersed with the hope that CJP Nisar would hear their voice. They vowed to continue protesting will they were allowed to meet him for the solution of their matters.