Letters containing a suspicious white powder despatched to no less than 17 high judges, prompting an investigation by the authorities.
Islamabad, Pakistan – Greater than a dozen senior judges in Pakistan have acquired letters containing a suspicious white powder since Tuesday, prompting an investigation by the authorities.
On Tuesday, all of the eight judges of the Islamabad Excessive Courtroom acquired comparable mails, with a word in English criticising the “justice system of Pakistan” and even mentioning the time period, bacillus anthracis, based on a primary data report (FIR) filed by the police within the capital, Islamabad.
Bacillus anthracis is a micro organism that may trigger anthrax, a severe an infection which might be deadly if instant remedy isn’t given.
The subsequent day, 4 Supreme Courtroom judges, together with Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, and 5 judges of the Lahore Excessive Courtroom additionally acquired comparable letters with the suspected “poisonous” materials.
Police mentioned a lesser-known group referred to as Tehreek-e-Namoos Pakistan has claimed duty for the suspicious letters.
Police officers in Islamabad and Lahore mentioned the letters and their contents have been despatched to forensic and safety consultants for investigation. The authorities haven’t but confirmed what the white powder was.
“We’re conducting our investigation and we will present a immediate replace as quickly as we now have a breakthrough,” a police official concerned within the investigation informed Al Jazeera on situation of anonymity as a result of he was not authorised to talk to the media.
Tehreek-e-Namoos Pakistan was first heard of in September final yr when the authorities had been alerted a couple of suspicious bag discovered at an upscale mountain climbing path in Islamabad. The bag contained a letter, hand grenades, a pistol, some bullets and maps of delicate buildings within the metropolis.
In that letter as nicely, the obscure group had criticised the “justice system”, saying it had determined to “educate a lesson to judges and generals”. The investigation into the incident is on.
The poisonous mails to the highest judges got here a couple of week after six judges of the Islamabad Excessive Courtroom wrote a scathing open letter to the Supreme Courtroom, alleging interference by Pakistan’s premier spy company, the Inter-Companies Intelligence (ISI), in judicial issues.
The judges mentioned the ISI had used “intimidatory” ways equivalent to secret surveillance and even abduction and torture of their members of the family to affect their selections in “politically consequential” circumstances, together with towards jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The ISI and the Pakistani navy haven’t but responded to the allegations.
The federal government, on its half, shaped a one-member fee to research the matter. Nonetheless, the retired choose appointed to the fee refused to take up the duty. Subsequently, the Supreme Courtroom constituted a seven-member bench to research the allegations made within the unprecedented letter by the judges.
The primary listening to of the bench was held on Wednesday, with Chief Justice Isa saying there shall be “zero tolerance” so far as threats to the independence of the judiciary are involved. The subsequent high court docket listening to on the matter shall be held on April 29.
Karachi-based lawyer Abdul Moiz Jaferii mentioned the judges receiving allegedly poisonous letters seem “reasonably peculiar and weird as a result of its timing”.
“From the contents of the letter that was despatched, together with the so-called poisonous substance in it, it’s troublesome to find out any commonality of motive for why these judges have been despatched these missives,” Jaferii informed Al Jazeera.
Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir, a human rights lawyer in Islamabad, mentioned whether or not the letters to the judges are “substantial or a hoax” have to be investigated.
Lahore-based lawyer Rida Hosain concurred, saying judges being “explicitly intimidated” is a matter that requires severe and pressing consideration.
“No justice system can operate if judges are being threatened. It strikes straight on the capacity of the judges to resolve circumstances earlier than them with out concern and favour,” she informed Al Jazeera.