CJP declines Punjab govt’s offer to enhance judges’ security

–Says overall security should be improved to benefit common people
–Says security agencies have failed to make any development into the firing incidents at Justice Ijazul Ahsan’s Lahore residence

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar on Monday declined a request by the Punjab government to enhance security for judges.

A notification by the apex court stated that in the backdrop of Sunday’s firing incidents at the residence of Justice Ijazul Ahsan, the government of Punjab wishes to enhance the security of judges. However, the request was declined by the chief justice who stated that judges do not need additional or extra security other than that provided in routine.

According to the notification, the chief justice also stated that the overall security should be improved to benefit the common people.

Also on Monday, Lahore police submitted to the CJP the initial investigation report regarding the attack.

According to the document filed with the CJP, police were alerted about the incident at around 10:45am following the registration of a complaint by Naik Abdul Razzaq of the Pakistan Rangers.

A bullet hit the gate of the house, the report reads. A forensic team later collected all evidence. Initial reports suggested a bullet had been fired from a distance. A search has been conducted in the vicinity.

On Sunday, two separate firing incidents were reported outside the residence of Justice Ijazul Ahsan.

A first information report (FIR) was consequently filed against unidentified persons, with charges comprising attempted murder, as well as, a violation of the anti-terrorism act.

A Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was formed to probe into the matter on the day of the attack. A spokesperson for the Punjab government said that the JIT would be headed by Additional Inspector-General of Police (IG) Muhammad Tahir and comprise Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) Sultan Chaudhry alongside representatives from the Military Intelligence (MI), Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and Intelligence Bureau (IB). Officers of the Special Branch and Forensics Agency will also be part of the team.

Following the incident, the CJP had visited the residence of Justice Ahsan and is said to be overseeing the situation himself.

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif also took notice of the incident, however, his personal secretary was refused a meeting with the SC judge by the SC administration.

Commenting on the incident, various lawyers, politicians and even the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) condemned the attack.

Earlier on Monday, during the hearing of a case related to the Football Federation of Pakistan (FFP), CJP Justice Saqib Nisar remarked that there was no development into the firing incidents at the residence of Ijaz-ul Ahsan’s residence which took place a day earlier.

He also thanked the Supreme Court Bar Association and Pakistan Bar Council for expressing solidarity with Justice Ijazul Ahsan and calling off their announced boycott of courts.