![](https://nextpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/lhc-judges-also-receive-threatening-letters-1712137239-6714.jpg)
- April 4, 2024
- Kainat Shakeel
- 0
ISLAMABAD: Four Supreme Court (SC) judges and the same number of Lahore High Court (LHC) judges received letters on Wednesday, one day after all eight judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) received letters poisoned with an unidentified poisonous substance. Similar to the letters given to the justices of the IHC, the complaint filed claims that the apex court judges also got letters contaminated with powder. Still, a high-ranking official remained silent regarding the content of the letters that the LHC justices had received. Letters in white cello-tape-sealed envelopes were presented to the IHC judges on Tuesday. On the envelopes were the names of the judges and the address of the IHC. According to sources, the letters included a menacing message and held the judges accountable for Pakistan’s citizens’ woes.
When the two judges’ staff members opened the envelopes, they discovered an odd powder inside. After receiving a report on the matter, the IHC registrar called the police personnel assigned to the high court’s security. Following this, a case was filed under Section 507 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), which deals with criminal intimidation through anonymous communication, and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), which deals with punishment for terrorist acts.
The first information report (FIR) states that Naib Qasid Ikram Ullah got the letters on April 1 and distributed them on Tuesday. It further stated that eight letters intended for IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Aamer Farooq and other judges were also given to their private secretaries. According to the FIR, the sender’s address was not full when the letters were sent. The letters, which included Tehreek-i-Namoos Pakistan, criticized the legal system, the statement claimed, adding that a specific photo and the English term “Bacillus Anthracis” were used in the threats.
Bacillus Anthracis, the anthrax germ, multiplies in the bloodstream and generates potent toxins that sicken and kill victims. An extended course of antibiotics is typically used to treat infections. The sources stated that a few police personnel who had come into contact with the powder experienced negative effects, including discomfort. During a hearing today, Syed Shahzad Nadeem Bukhari, the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) (Operations) of Islamabad, notified CJ Farooq that four SC and LHC judges had also received letters.
On the complaint of Muhammad Iqbal Khan, the head of the SC’s Receipt and Issue Department, an FIR concerning the occurrence at the highest court was filed at the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) police station. Both ATA Section 7 and PPC Section 507 were used to register the case. The complainant claimed in the FIR, that the post office received the mail on March 29 or 30, and that following an examination, the personal secretaries of the SC judges sent and received it.
He claimed that the administration had called him today and mentioned that “a white powder-like chemical” had been found in four letters written to Pakistan’s Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and three other justices. According to him, Gulshad Khatun sent three of the letters from an “unknown address,” and Sajjad Hussain sent the fourth letter from a similar “unknown address.” Khan claimed that the two people had tried to incite “fear and harassment,” and that the police had been notified about the situation right away to take appropriate action.
According to the FIR, the four opened letters from Khan were taken by the police when they arrived at the top court at 12:30 p.m. It went on to explain that a police team had been sent to examine the substance after a mixture of white powder was discovered on the letters. According to the First Information Report, the letters’ contents threatened someone by using the term “Bacilus Anthracis,” criticized the legal system, and mentioned Tehreek Namoos-i-Pakistan. Talking to media today from within the LHC premises, Lahore DIG Operations Ali Nasir Rizvi stated that the inquiry was still proceeding despite the judges of the high court having received four letters. He added, “We’re also checking other courts.”
The LHC Senior Puisne Judge Justice Shujaat Ali Khan was briefed on the case by him and Lahore Capital City Police Officer Bilal Siddique Kamyana, according to his statement. According to Rizvi, the letters have been turned over to the Department of Counterterrorism for review. Since the case was still being investigated, the DIG declined to provide further details about the letters’ contents or the judges to whom they were addressed, claiming that it was “too early” to comment. After discussing all facets of the situation with specialists and experts, he announced that information would be made available to the media. The meeting was set for today.