Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday directed the government to immediately provide a bulletproof car to former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
In his verdict on a petition filed by Sheikh Ahsanuddin, IHC Justice Shaukat Siddiqui said the former chief justice should be provided security on a par with former prime ministers.
The court was told that a 2005 model bullet-proof vehicle has been given to former chief justice for three months.
The notification, submitted by Ministry of Interior to the IHC, stated the retired CJP will himself bear the maintenance cost of the vehicle, which has been provided for official use only.
Expressing displeasure over the notification, Justice Siddiqui sought an explanation of the term “official use”, since Chaudhry does not hold any government office.
The IHC Justice Shaukat also ordered the interior ministry to submit details of security provided to all VIPs.
“The ministry should take the matter seriously as the former CJP faces serious life threats,” he directed.
In an earlier hearing on January 4, Siddiqui had said that adequate security should be put in place at Chaudhry’s residence. He had added that the bulletproof vehicle provided previously was ‘out-of-order’.
“Bulletproof vehicles from other government functionaries will also be taken back if the former CJP is not provided with a bulletproof car,” Justice Siddiqui had warned.
He had further observed that the government seemed vindictive towards the former CJP by not providing him enough security.