LAHORE - Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar visited senior judge of the Supreme Court Justice Ijazul Ahsan after incidents of firing on his residence in Model Town, and summoned the inspector general of Punjab police here on Sunday.
As the information about the firing incidents spread, the CJP immediately reached the residence of his colleague and personally monitored the issue.
The lawyers’ bodies strongly condemned firing on the residence of Justice Ijazul Ahsan and announced to go on strike on Monday (today).
The CJP, however, directed the lawyers to call off the strike.
Justice Ijazul Ashan was also a member of the five-member bench which delivered judgment in Panama Papers case, and is also monitoring-judge to supervise the implementation of Panama Papers case’s verdict. He has also been monitoring the ongoing proceedings of the NAB court in NAB references against Sharifs.
Judges of the Lahore High Court also visited the residence of Justice Ahsan soon after the incident.
Pakistan Bar Council, the lawyers’ top regulatory body, all provincial councils, Supreme Court Bar Association, Lahore High Court Bar Association, Lahore Bar Association and other bars expressed serious concerns over the firing incident, and demanded immediate arrest of the attackers. They said they would stand by the judiciary and would not tolerate any attack on it.
In a statement issued yesterday evening, Pakistan Bar Council condemned the incident of firing on house of Justice Ijazul Ahsan. The firing attack at the house of Justice Ahsan was an act to threaten & pressurize the judiciary for detracting it from its very bold actions being taken for the rule of law and safeguarding the fundamental rights of the people and against the plunderers. It said the Lawyers fraternity was united for the judiciary with full force to support its courgeous actions for the rule of law and the supremacy of the Constitution.
The council also termed the incident utter failure of the government and its law enforcement agencies to provide safety and security to members of the judiciary. It said they demanded of the government to immediately arrest the culprits and award them exemplary punishment.
The bar leaders had also announced that Lawyers throughout Pakistan would protest on Monday, against the incident of firing on the house of apex court judge and would appear in courts wearing black arm bands and would also hold protest meetings in their bar rooms. According to another statement, Lahore High Court Bar Association would hold general house meeting today (Monday) at 11: 30 am to condemn the incident of firing.
