London police shut Justice Faez Isa ‘attack’ case without further action

LONDON: The City of London Police has decided not to take action against anyone over a complaint made by the Pakistan High Commission in London alleging an attack on Justice (retired) Qazi Faez Isa and the High Commission’s diplomatic car outside the Middle Temple by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activists on 28th of October – due to lack of enough evidence.

The Pakistan High Commission had made the complaint to the police after being instructed by the Foreign Office and asked the police to review the footage of the alleged attack and find the persons involved. A source aware of the developments in the case said the police has told the High Commission there are not enough grounds to take any action against anyone. “The case has been shut down,” said a trusted security source.

Former CJP Qazi Faez Isa’s car was stopped and banged upon by a group of PTI protesters outside the Middle Temple when he was leaving the venue after becoming the Master Bencher, following being called to the Bench. The footage went viral, showing Qazi Faez Isa and his wife hiding their faces as the PTI supporters banged on the car.

Sources told Geo News that on 29th October a Note Verbale was sent to the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) seeking help of the diplomatic police. A copy was sent to the Foreign Office as well as to the British High Commission. A few days ago, around four police officers visited the high commission to ask further questions where they were briefed in full.

Acting on legal advice, the High Commission had asked the police to rely on the viral footage as well its own police footage. The source said: “The High Commission has received confirmation of no further action. We followed the rules and did everything that was necessary.”

A police source told Geo News: “The incident doesn’t meet the threshold of evidence necessary to bring charges against anyone. The complaint has been closed.”

In Pakistan, heavy action followed the Middle Temple incident. The names of 23 people allegedly involved in the London attack on former chief justice Qazi Faez Isa were added to the Passport Control List (PCL) and revoked.