Supreme Court (SC) has ordered for installation of CCTV cameras in district courts within 48 hours and immediate payment of compensation to the family members of those killed in attack on Islamabad district courts.
The court has also sought reply from president of high court bar, Islamabad bar association and the Islamabad IG. The eyewitnesses can also file their reply in connection with Islamabad court attack, court further ruled.
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani remarked, “Intelligence agencies had informed about the attack and despite this information the occurrence of such greater tragedy is a serious security lapse. If security personnel were present there then as to why they did not fire upon the attackers and injure them. What will the government do for the safety of general public when such state of affairs prevail in the courts. Who will provide protection to people. It seems to us that no one is interested in peace. Otherwise, fool-proof arrangement would have been made to avert such incidents”.
The CJP remarked that it was surprising how the the security agencies could not come to know who the attackers were and in what numbers.
Justice Khilji Arif Hussain remarked, “It seems as if no one is interested in terms of security of the country. Such CCTV cameras should be installed through which the faces of the attackers could be identified. We have given this order earlier as well. If this order is not complied with, those found responsible will be sent to Adiala jail”.
A three-member bench of the SC led by CJP Tassaduq Hussain Jillani took up suo-moto notice case in connection with the Islamabad district courts attack on Monday for hearing Tuesday.
The interior secretary, while presenting his report on the attack, told the court that police from the nearby police station had reached the site of occurrence within seven minutes and that 47 police personnel were present in different courts at the time of attack. However, the attackers could not be stopped because they blew them up.
The CJP, while expressing annoyance over it, remarked, “What good were those many police personnel if the attackers could not be intercepted before they entered the court premises.”
In his reply, the interior secretary said that the situation was such that stampede had erupted therein and the people were running outwards. If security agencies opened fire, many casualties could have been caused as a result.
Representatives of lawyers organization told the court CCTVs were not functional and police personnel and security agencies personnel reached the scene after 46 minutes of the attack. No proper arrangement of security is in place in the courts. We are worried and we have announced 3-day mourning. Strike will be observed for 7 days. If the terrorists can reach district courts today then they will penetrate in superior courts tomorrow. The lawyers are being picked up already.
Taufiq Asif told the court “ there are three doors to Islamabad district court and no effective security system is in place thereon. If some major incident occurs then it will become too much difficult to overcome the situation.
The court issued directives for making the security of three doors more effective.
During the course of hearing of the case, chief secretaries of certain provinces presented the report on security arrangements made in the courts.
The court ordered the interior secretary to make fool proof security arrangements in district court, install CCTV cameras within 48 hours besides introducing effective security system at three doors of district courts. Payment of compensation to the family members of those who were killed in the attack and injured persons be made immediately. The best medical facilities be provided in the hospitals to those who were injured in the attack.
The court ordered that president high court bar, president Islamabad bar association and IG Islamabad should file their reply in writing on next hearing. The eye witnesses can also file their reply in writing if they want so, court remarked.
The hearing of the case was adjourned till March, 10.
