Commandant Bannu summoned by PHC today

ISLAMABAD:-Peshawar High Court has directed attorney general, secretary interior and secretary defence to produce Commandant Bannu Cantt today for explanation that under what law Justice Ikramullah Khan was barred from entering into the cantonment area housing Bannu bench of the apex court.
Brigadier Aqeel Ahmed, commandant, 325 Brigade, was earlier summoned on May 28 following the unpleasant incident that occurred on May 27 but he didn’t appear. The apex court resultantly noted in a judgment:
“So far as Commandant, 325 Brigade, Bannu is concerned, he considers himself to be immune from Constitution and law, therefore, Attorney General of Pakistan, Secretary Interior and Secretary Defence are directed to procure his attendance in Court.” On May 27, army personnel deployed at Muslim Gate, Bannu stopped the official vehicle of Justice Ikramullah Khan when he was on his way to Bannu Cantonment along with police squad and made unjustified demand of showing official card and also prevented him from entering the Cantonment where high court bench is located, according to a notice served to the concerned officials.
As Brigadier Aqeel didn’t appear on May 28, a two-member bench of Peshawar High Court in Bannu issued a two-page judgment directing the production of the commandant in addition to the high-ups of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to explain the legal grounds of such check posts and “under what law, they are disgracing people in the garb of security.”
“Notices are also issued to the Chief Secretary, Provincial Police Officer and Regional Police Officer that under what authority, the residential as well as the premises of High Court are given under control of Pak Army, 325 Brigade, Bannu and also to show cause that under what authority, respondents have installed the check post in an area where the Peshawar High Court, Bannu Bench works, civil society is residing and to show that under what law, they are disgracing people in the garb of security and also to show that who has given them authority to search the judges while entering and leaving the Peshawar High Court,” reads the court order.
This court was apprised, the order further reads, that Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provides sufficient funds to the Pak Army to provide security to the citizens but in the garb of these funds, instead of providing security to them, the army has started harassment of civil servants and members of civil society including judges, lawyers and also the civil servants who have to attend the high court in connection with their services.