SHC orders for ATC judge to be provided security immediately

The judge had decided a number of high-profile cases, including the Nishtar Park bombing.

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) took notice of the fact that despite its directions, a retired anti-terrorism court judge had not been provided security and gave the authorities two hours to do this.

Syed Hassan Shah Bukhari, who had served as a judge in one of the anti-terrorism courts, had taken the home secretary, IGP and SSP Security to the high court after being denied security.

His lawyer, Hassan Kursheed, said the petitioner had decided a number of high-profile cases, including the Nishtar Park bombing case and the case of the attack on the Corps Commander’s convoy in 2004. “Since the petitioner isn’t in service anymore, he and his family are facing serious threats to their lives. Men have shot at his residence at least three times in the recent past,” said the lawyer.

Previously, Bukhari was given security only after he sent a letter to the high court’s chief justice. But the security personnel were suddenly withdrawn in March.

Disposing of the plea, the bench had on May 15 ordered for the petitioner to be given security. On Thursday the lawyer complained that the court’s directions had not been followed though a week had passed.

After hearing this, the judges summoned the chief secretary and some police officials. They appeared in court and said security, as permitted under the law, had already been given to the petitioner.

But the bench, headed by Justice Maqbool Baqar, gave them two hours to give security to the petitioner as well as his family and called for a compliance report by May 28.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2013.