A judge of the Special Anti-Terrorism Court in Sargodha, Pakistan, has disclosed harassment and interference from secret intelligence agencies.
According to official documents, Judge Muhammad Abbas of the Anti-Terrorism Court communicated these concerns in a formal letter addressed to the Registrar of the Lahore High Court.
In the correspondence, Judge Abbas detailed instances of undue interference in judicial processes and personal harassment directed at him and his family by an officer from a secret agency.
The judge’s letter explains that shortly after he began his judicial duties, he received a request from an Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officer seeking a private meeting in his chambers. Judge Abbas declined this request and has since faced continuous harassment. He describes a series of intimidations, including vandalism and financial harassment aimed at his family. Notably, unknown assailants damaged the gas meter at his residence, and shortly afterwards, his household received an unusually high electricity bill.
Furthermore, Judge Abbas linked these harassment incidents to his judicial work, citing threats and intimidation in the context of two cases in Mianwali. The situation escalated to violence when shots were fired outside the courthouse after he refused to yield to threats, leading to the temporary closure of the courts.
The alarming revelation underscores the challenges and risks faced by judicial officers in regions plagued by political instability and interference from state and non-state actors.
