On June 12, Lahore High Court Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan summoned Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Anwar and other officials in response to a complaint by the presiding judge of the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Sargodha, alleging harassment by intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
The LHC registrar’s office received a special report on June 7 from District & Sessions Judge (D&SJ) Muhammad Abbas. In the report, Judge Abbas recounted that on May 25, his first day as the ATC judge in Sargodha, he was approached with a message that an ISI authority wished to meet him in his chamber. The judge refused the meeting.
Subsequently, Judge Abbas reported several incidents of harassment. His family, still residing at his previous residence in Bahawalpur, experienced nighttime vandalism, including damage to the sui-gas meter. They also received an unusually high electricity bill, which he suspected was falsified with the connivance of the local DISCO by intelligence personnel. Furthermore, his relatives were questioned about his personal information by unknown individuals, and on June 6, a firing incident damaged a transformer outside the ATC.
In a follow-up report on June 10, Judge Abbas described further interference with court operations. He reported that on that day, 19 post-arrest bail petitions and nine trial cases were scheduled. However, the prosecution sought adjournments for two cases, citing a transfer application to the LHC. Judge Abbas denied the adjournment due to the lack of a stay order. Later, the court staff and police reported that all roads were blocked due to an alleged threat alert, preventing access to the court and the production of under-trial prisoners.
Chief Justice Khan, noting Judge Abbas’s good reputation and dedication, converted the complaint into a contempt petition and issued notices. He summoned the IGP, the regional police officer, and the district police officer to appear in person on June 13.
June 13, 2024
Source: Dawn