The Lahore High Court (LHC) Registrar’s Office disclosed on Wednesday that four of its judges, including Justice Shujaat Ali Khan, Justice Shahid Bilal Hasan, Justice Alia Neelum, and Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh, received threatening letters.
In response to the threats, counterterrorism and forensic teams were deployed to the Lahore High Court (LHC), leading to increased security protocols and a thorough examination of the concerning letters. Additionally, the operation and footage from CCTV cameras around the court’s premises are being meticulously analyzed.
This incident follows closely on the heels of a similar situation at the Islamabad High Court (IHC), where eight judges, including Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, received letters suspected to be tainted with anthrax.
A police team of specialists initiated a detailed investigation to identify the mysterious powdery substance in the “suspicious letters,” which were accompanied by threats. The letters were reportedly sent by an individual identified only as Resham, who provided no return address.
A judicial staff member reported experiencing severe eye irritation and skin burns upon contact with the substance.
These threats emerge amidst a larger backdrop of tension within the judiciary, particularly after the Supreme Court decided to form a seven-member panel, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, to address accusations from six IHC judges regarding interference by intelligence agencies in judicial matters.
The panel, including justices Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Yahya Afridi, Athar Minallah, Mussarat Hilali, Jamal Khan Mandokhail, and Naeem Akhtar Afghan, was convened under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
