Lahore High Court’s (LHC) Justice Ali Baqar Najafi became the latest target on Friday of the suspicious ‘toxic letters’

Latest - تازہ ترین , / Friday, April 5th, 2024

LAHORE:
Lahore High Court’s (LHC) Justice Ali Baqar Najafi became the latest target on Friday of the suspicious ‘toxic letters’ received by superior members of the judiciary over the last few days. The total number of LHC judges receiving the letter has now reached six. The letter received by Justice Najafi has been handed over to the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD). Two days ago, eight judges, including Chief Justice Aamer Farooq of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) received letters containing an unknown powder, suspected to be laced with anthrax. The incident, coming just a day after the Supreme Court of Pakistan initiated suo motu proceedings over allegations of the IHC’s chief justice and other judges against spy agencies, has heightened fears of intimidation and raised serious concerns about the safety and security of the judiciary. Last week, six judges from the IHC voiced their concerns to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) regarding alleged interference by intelligence agencies in the court’s affairs, shining a spotlight on the delicate balance between judicial independence and external influence. According to judicial sources, staff members of two judges discovered powder upon opening the letters, resulting in burning sensations in their eyes. Immediate action was taken, with affected individuals using sanitizer and washing their precautionary measure.
Confirming the receipt of the letters, IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq stated that the incident caused delays in the day’s hearings. Upon discovery of the suspicious powder, a team of experts from the Islamabad Police swiftly arrived at the IHC to examine the substance.