PHC summons additional chief secretary in petition seeking security for judges, courts

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday summoned the additional chief secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Home Affairs Department to brief the court on security measures so far taken for ending lawlessness and improving law and order situation in the province.

A two-member bench of the PHC comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Syed Arshad Ali heard the petition filed by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council. During the hearing, KP Bar Council Vice Chairman Sadiq Ali Mohmand, Additional Advocate General Rauf Afridi, Deputy Inspector General (Legal) Akhtar Abbas, and Assistant Attorney General Rahat Ali Nahqi appeared before the court.

During the proceedings, Justice Ijaz Anwar inquired about the security situation for courts and judges in the southern districts. The DIG informed the court that security for courts, judges and their residences had been increased.

Upon this, Justice Ijaz Anwar remarked that the security during the movement of judges was weak and that police personnel were also not safe. Justice Syed Arshad Ali raised the question as whether the provincial government had discussed security matters with the federal government, and said that security issues would not be resolved unless the federal government played its vital role. The assistant attorney general said that the provincial government had not contacted the federal government regarding the security matters.

To this, Justice Syed Arshad Ali asked whether the federal government would wait for a letter from the provincial government, saying that they had their own responsibilities. He pointed out that military and paramilitary officers and soldiers were being martyred daily and questioned whether the federal government was aware of this volatile situation. He said that the court was not satisfied with the federal government’s response.

Justice Arshad Ali posed another question to the DIG (Legal) about the equipment available for monitoring routes, specifically drones. The DIG (Legal) replied that they did not have drones and that monitoring during movement was primarily conducted by personnel from the Special Branch.

KP Bar Council Vice Chairman Sadiq Ali Mohmand advocate informed the court that they (KP and federal governments) had failed to provide security even in Charsadda, let alone in the southern districts. The bench expressed dissatisfaction over the federal government response and asked the Centre to sit with the provincial government to resolve the security issues and submit a response. After arguments, the court adjourned the hearing until November 5.