PHC orders meeting on judicial security

Court also warns Bushra Bibi to appear at next hearing

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court has directed its registrar to convene a meeting on the security of the judiciary, barrooms, and judicial officers in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, as per a writ petition filed on the matter.

The meeting is to involve representatives from the K-P Home Department, bar council members, the attorney general, the advocate general, and the inspector general of police.

The case was heard by a two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Waqar Ahmed. The petitioner, Sadiq Ali Momand, along with representatives of the federal and provincial governments, appeared before the court.

The petitioner argued that the law-and-order situation in the province is deteriorating, forcing the courts and staff of two districts in the southern region to relocate to Dera Ismail Khan.

He emphasised that providing security to judicial officers, the judiciary, and barrooms is the government's responsibility.

An additional attorney general informed the court that a meeting had been held, during which it was proposed to adopt international standard measures and provide enhanced security to judges in high-risk areas.

The CJ stated that two district courts have been closed due to security concerns, and directed the registrar to ensure all stakeholders' participation in the upcoming meeting. The court ordered the formation of a committee to focus on judicial security and adjourned the hearing to November 26.

Bushra told to appear in court

The Peshawar High Court accepted a plea for exemption from appearance filed on behalf of Bushra Bibi, wife of PTI Founder Imran Khan, in her protective bail case.

The court extended her protective bail until December 23, but warned that if she does not appear at the next hearing, her exemption request will not be granted.

Additionally, in response to a petition seeking details of cases against her, the federal government submitted a report stating that Bushra Bibi faces one case under the National Accountability Bureau related to the Toshakhana gifts depository.

The case was heard by a two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Waqar Ahmed. Bushra Bibi's counsel, Alam Khan Adeenzai, appeared in court alongside NAB's focal person. Bushra Bibi had filed a plea for exemption from appearance, citing health issues. Her lawyer informed the court that she could not appear due to serious health concerns.

Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim stated that Bushra Bibi must appear at the next hearing as her exemption request will not be considered again. NAB's focal person informed the court that only one Toshakhana case was under investigation.

The court extended her protective bail until December 23 and adjourned the hearing.

PTM ban challenge

A bench of the Peshawar High Court, comprising Justice SM Attique Shah and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah, has once again sought responses from the federal and provincial governments on a writ petition challenging the federal government's decision to declare the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) a proscribed organization, and include its leaders and members in the First Schedule and Schedule 4 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

When the case was heard, the petitioner was represented by Attaullah Kundi, while the federal government was represented by a Deputy Attorney General and the provincial government by an additional advocate general.