Courts security: LHC suggest entry cards for visitors

The chief justice suggested that litigants and other visitors to the courts be issued security cards to gain entry.

LAHORE:

A special division bench of the Lahore High Court on Tuesday directed the police to arrest proclaimed offenders wanted for criminal activities conducted in courts.

The chief justice, hearing a petition for improved security arrangements at judicial premises, suggested that litigants and other visitors to the courts be issued cards with security features, like computerised national identity cards, to gain entry. Representatives of the police and lawyers should discuss this. He directed the police to inform the court at the next hearing, on November 19, about the action taken to arrest those accused of crimes at the courts.

A lawyer submitted that steps were being taken to improve security at the courts. He said several men accused of shootings at the courts had been arrested. The court also sought action against policemen who were not investigating such cases on merit.

The court had earlier ordered that CCTV cameras be installed in all subordinate courts in the province. Kashif Pasha, the advocate for the petitioner, has voiced concern about the increasing number of violent incidents at the courts in the Punjab.

Case sought against traffic warden

An additional district and sessions judge on Tuesday sought comments from the Kot Lakhpat SHO by October 29 in a petition seeking a case against a traffic warden for alleged extortion.

Petitioner Muhammad Iqbal said that he was on his way home on his motorcycle a few days ago when traffic warden Saeed stopped him and demanded money. Iqbal said that he refused to pay up upon which the warden searched his pockets and took his money.

Iqbal said the warden threatened to cancel his motorcycle’s registration if he did not pay.

Iqbal said he had gone to file a complaint at Kot Lakhpat police station but the police had refused to register a case. He asked the court to direct the Kot Lakhpat SHO to register a case.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2013.