Vague statement: IHC judge irked by provision of bulletproof vehicle to former CJP for ‘official use only’

Asks interior ministry to take matter seriously.

ISLAMABAD:

After learning that former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Chaudhry had been given a 2005 model bulletproof vehicle for three months for ‘official use’, a seemingly annoyed Islamabad High Court Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui on Thursday ordered the interior ministry to submit details of security provided to all VIPs.

He was hearing a petition regarding the provision of a security detail to the former CJP.

The judged asked the ministry to submit security details of former presidents, prime ministers, federal and state ministers and other VIPs by January 15. The details, he added should also include the number of security personnel deputed for each one’s security.

A notification submitted by the Ministry of Interior to the IHC single bench showed that the former CJP was provided with a 2005 model bulletproof car for three months only.

To the body of the notification that says the retired CJP will himself bear the maintenance cost of the vehicle, which has been provided for official use only, Justice Siddiqui sought an explanation of the term “official use”, since Chaudhry does not hold any government office.

The petitioner argued that during his term, the former CJP had heard a number of sensitive cases in which decisions might have gone against powerful forces, which is why he needs to be protected. Counsel Ahsanuddin argued that Chaudhry’s current security detail was insufficient.

The IHC judge maintained that was an asset for the nation as he had protected and safeguarded the state’s constitution — a feat worthy of more than the provision of a 1991 model vehicle that was previously assigned to him.

“The ministry should take the matter seriously as the former CJP faces serious life threats,” he directed.

During the previous hearing on January 03, the court had ordered the respondents to provide the former CJP with a bulletproof car and depute an adequate number of security personnel at his residence. “If the former CJP cannot be provided with a bulletproof car, all bulletproof cars from other government functionaries will also be taken back,” Justice Siddiqui had threatened.

The petition, filed by former Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) president Sheikh Ahsanuddin and incumbent LHCBA President Taufeeq Asif, referred to former president Pervez Musharraf, by stating that the government was providing a person who abrogated the constitution with as many as 1,100 security officials, whereas the person who upheld Pakistan’s constitution had been provided with only four.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2014.