Road closed for chief justice’s security
On Monday, two public transport vehicles had to be diverted because the road was closed between The Mall and Justice Cornelius Chowk. Ironically, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was at the time chiding the Defence Housing Authority for closing roads leading to neighbouring housing schemes.
The diverted vehicles were a Daewoo bus on Route No 11 and a mini van on Route No 09. They had to go on a detour via the Railway Station to Green Town and Shah Noor Studios on Multan Road, respectively.
The closure of the road on Monday also resulted in inconvenience and longer travel times for visitors to the court. There were several angry exchanges between security personnel and lawyers who tried to drive to the court building.
Vendors who work on Ustad Allah Bukhsh Road said the practice had hurt their businesses.
Muhammad Mubarik Ali, who operates a juice cart at the side of the road, said his income had taken a severe hit since the police had started closing the road.
“The security personnel have done me a great favour by allowing my business, otherwise previously they would force me to close it completely,” he said sarcastically.
City Division Superintendent of Police Dr Shehzad Asif said that the road was closed for security reasons whenever the chief justice was in the Supreme Court building in Lahore.
The security plan for important figures like the chief justice is drawn up by a combination of security agencies, the police, the Interior Ministry, the Home Department and the city government.
The CJP, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is due to stay in Lahore for court proceedings till December 24.
There were several other security measures in place at the Supreme Court building.
Security personnel from the Rangers, Quick Response Force, Mujahid Force and Elite Force were deployed inside the court premises.
Visitors were checked at two separate points and no one was allowed to take their mobile phones inside the courtroom. At the first security post, an official took mobile phones from the visitors and gave them tokens in exchange as proof of ownership so they could pick up their phones on the way out.
Still, some people were able to smuggle their phones into the courtroom.
On two occasions in the midst of proceedings, mobile phones rang out in court, much to the embarrassment of their owners.
One was so mortified, he jumped off his seat and began running out of the room when his phone rang.
His reaction prompted laughter from the Chief Justice of Pakistan, who would normally hand out serious penalties for such offences.
Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was sufficiently entertained to let the man off.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 21st, 2010.
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