PHC wants security enhanced for judicial complexes in KP

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday expressed concern over lack of security, the ever-rising incidents of firing on the premises of courts and the extrajudicial killing of accused and directed the authorities concerned to submit a report within three days with regard to the security being provided at the judicial complexes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Hearing a petition filed by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council regarding the security situation at the judicial complexes in the province, a division bench of the PHC comprising Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Wiqar Ahmad observed that the current situation required a complete review of the security arrangements being provided for judges and judicial complexes.

KP Bar Council Vice-Chairman Sadiq Ali Mohmand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Advocate General Shah Faisal Uthmankhel and Deputy Attorney General Ubaidullah Anwar appeared in the instant case.

The petitioner, Sadiq Ali Mohmand, informed the court that the security situation, particularly in the southern districts of the province, was precarious and even judges had been attacked.

“No one is safe and even the courts in Tank and Waziristan have been shifted to Dera Ismail Khan,” he pleaded.Similarly, he argued that the situation in Kurram district was volatile due to conflicts but the provincial government had not taken adequate security measures.

The petitioner said the purpose of this petition by the Bar Council was to improve the security of all institutions, including judges, lawyers and other organizations, and to take practical steps in this regard. He also mentioned a recent case where a shooting incident at the Charsadda Judicial Complex resulted in deaths.

Upon this, the chief justice said that they were themselves reviewing the reasons for these security lapses, which had led to incidents of extrajudicial killings. He added that they needed to assess the security arrangements in place for courts and judicial complexes.

Sadiq Ali Mohmand told the court that if the provincial government did not take concrete measures then they had certain options. To this, the CJ acknowledged the concerns as valid and said that they were also looking into these matters.

He asked both the provincial and federal governments to play their role in addressing the situation.The Advocate General informed the court that the provincial government was aware of the security concerns raised by the lawyers and was closely monitoring the situation.

“Thousands of police personnel are being recruited and will be deployed in sensitive areas. Security is being enhanced at judicial complexes and other locations. However, a detailed response will be submitted later,” he added.

The asked Deputy Attorney General Ubaidullah Anwar to play a role in this matter and submit a report within three days. He stated that some questions would be raised in the court order, and responses would need to be provided as the concerns of the lawyers were legitimate.

He said the court did not want any unfortunate incidents to occur.The hearing was adjourned until October 23 and both the provincial and federal governments were ordered to submit their reports within three days.