LEAs told to ensure protection of citizens, judges

Karachi

The chief justice of the Sindh High Court, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, on Wednesday directed law enforcement agencies to take appropriate measures to ensure protection of lives and properties of the members of judiciary and citizens, following an attempted grenade attack on the residence of a high court judge a day earlier.

Presiding over a meeting convened at the high court premises after Tuesday night's attempted attack on the DHA residence of Justice Nazar Akbar, the CJ reviewed the security measures implemented by law enforcers, as well as investigation reports of the incident.

The provincial chief and home secretaries, provincial police chief, Director General Sindh Rangers and others attended the meeting.

The CJ was informed by Sindh Chief Secretary Mohammad Siddique Memon that a committee had already been constituted to conduct an inquiry into the incident.

Director General Sindh Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar, however, claimed the attack on Justice Akbar’s residence was a part of the ongoing series of attacks at check-posts of the paramilitary force in the city.

The DG maintained the accused that had carried out attacks on the police and Rangers had been identified and would soon be tracked down. He assured the CJ that the paramilitary force were aware of their duties and determined to maintain law and order in the city. 

Sindh Inspector General AD Khawaja claimed the police had obtained the CCTV footage while arrangement to geo-fence the area were also underway; the police chief claimed to also have beefed up security of the high court’s judges. 

Khawaja added that all further directives in this regard would be complied with in letter and spirit.

Lawyers’ condemnation

Sindh Bar Council’s vice-chairman Barrister Salahuddin Ahmed while condemning the incident demanded of the provincial government and law enforcers to arrest the attackers and also ensure security of the judges. 

The Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) held a general body meeting to condemn the ‘cowardly’ attack on Justice Akbar’s residence. The resolution passed by the body read that, “It attack was a heinous crime and an attempt to undermine the judicial system and independence of judiciary.”

The association requested the SHC’s CJ to direct all concerned agencies including the country’s prime intelligence agencies’, the Military Intelligence (MI), the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Sindh Rangers to investigate the attack and make ensure arrest of the culprits behind the attack.

It also demanded provision of foolproof security to all judges of the SHC in order for the judges to perform their duties safely.