Former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. PHOTO: PID
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday directed the authorities to arrange a bulletproof vehicle for the former Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry besides putting in place adequate security at his residence.
Justice Shaukat Siddiqui of the IHC observed that the government seemed vindictive towards the former CJP by not providing him enough security.
Justice Siddiqui also dismissed a petition of a lawyer, Riaz Hanif Rahi, who had pleaded the court that no security should be provided to the former CJP. “If it were done, then all former CJPs would demand security in the same manner that would be an extra burden on the national exchequer,” the petitioner maintained.
Justice Siddiqui asked the petitioner why he was not questioning the security provided to Musharraf. The judge fined the petitioner with Rs100,000, terming his petition frivolous.
While taking up a petition filed by former and incumbent presidents of Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) Sheikh Ahsanuddin and Taufeeq Asif, respectively, pertaining to former CJ’s security, the judge said that the bulletproof vehicle that has been provided to him was ‘out-of-order’.
The judge also directed the joint secretary cabinet division to submit a compliance report on the next hearing on January 9.
The petitioners maintained that as many as 1,100 security personnel have been deployed for the security of former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf, whereas, a person who upheld the constitution has been provided with only four security personnel.
Inspector General (IG) Islamabad Police, additional secretary ministry of interior and joint secretary cabinet division appeared in the court as respondents.
IGP Sikandar Hayat told the court that only four police officials have been deputed on the security of the former CJP.
The judge reprimanded the additional secretary interior saying “You are telling us that 18 persons have been provided for the security of the former CJP, whereas the petitioners say that they are between four and six”.
“Bulletproof vehicles from other government functionaries will also be taken back if the former CJP is not provided with a bulletproof car,” Justice Siddiqui warned.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2014.
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