ATC Sargodha Judge Harassment Case, Lahore High Court Reserves Decision on Spontaneous Notice
Lahore High Court’s expression of indignation at ATC for preventing lawyers and Cylian from appearing
There is a double standard in the country, rhetoric and programs are run on social media against judges who do not like them, Chief Justice Lahore High Court.
LAHORE ( WEB NEWS )
The Lahore High Court reserved its decision on the issue of harassment of the judge of Sargodha Anti-Terrorism Court on its own notice. The court expressed strong displeasure at the Sargodha ATC barring the lawyers and Cylin from appearing. Lahore High Court Chief Justice Malik Shehzad Ahmed Khan heard the spontaneous notice taken on the letter written by the judge of Anti-Terrorism Court Sargodha. The ATC judge wrote in the letter that a message was conveyed to me that some people from a sensitive organization want to meet you, on my refusal, the gas meter of my house was broken and a hugely reduced electricity bill was sent, this bill was sent to WAPDA officials. With the connivance of the police, the police blocked the roads leading to the court on the day of the hearing of the cases on May 9 and fired at a transformer outside the court. During the hearing, IG Punjab, DPR Sargodha appeared in the court and submitted a sensitive report in the court. IK Punjab said that an inquiry was conducted into the firing outside the court, we have to geo-fence the court area in this regard, but the Islamabad High Court has prohibited the provision of call data to the telephone companies. The Chief Justice remarked that our judicial officer said that an employee of a sensitive institution sent him a message to meet him, have you found that employee? To which the IG Punjab replied that I asked the concerned officers in this regard, but they flatly refused. The Chief Justice of Lahore High Court asked that under which law did you stop the lawyers and salesmen from going to the ATC court? To which the IG Punjab replied that there was a threat alert in this regard, so the court was closed. The Chief Justice of Lahore High Court remarked that if you close all the courts, you should impose a curfew, we are not talking about gathering of people, why did you stop them from going to the court? The Chief Justice inquired that the meter installed outside the judge’s house in Bahawalpur was broken, what is the information about it? To which IG Punjab replied that we have not received any such report. Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan while addressing the DPO Sargodha remarked that he wanted the cases pending before the judge not to be processed, he did not allow lawyers and civilians to enter the court, and work. What does it prevent? You did the same with the Rawalpindi judge. The judge of Rawalpindi asked how you people are treating him. The Chief Justice of Lahore High Court further remarked that Mr. IG, please do not make a joke of the court. Corps Commander’s house was attacked, the courts have to decide on it, if the biggest court of the province is attacked by lawyers, you have not named anyone in the case, there is a double standard in this country. Programs are run on social media and rhetoric against judges who do not like them. After the arguments were completed, the court reserved its judgment on the issue of harassment of the judge of Anti-Terrorism Court Sargodha.