White Powder
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) was rattled as all eight judges received menacing letters containing a suspicious “white powder,” prompting the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) by the capital’s Counter Terrorism Department police station.
The FIR, lodged under Section 507 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, was based on a complaint filed by duty clerk Qadeer Ahmed.
Ahmed detailed that the letters, purportedly sent by a woman named Resham without an address, arrived for each judge, including Chief Justice Aamer Farooq.
Upon discovery of the potentially hazardous powder in one of the envelopes, Ahmed promptly alerted the authorities. He revealed that police officials swiftly intervened, seizing all letters and initiating an analysis of the substance.
Preliminary findings revealed references to the outfit Tehreek Namoos-i-Pakistan in the letters, which also criticized the judicial system and issued threatening implications using the term “Bacilus Anthracis.”
The gravity of the situation was underscored by Chief Justice Farooq during a court session, emphasizing the severity of the threat.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad police launched an investigation into the matter, promising a comprehensive inquiry employing all available resources.
Additionally, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) demanded immediate and thorough scrutiny of the incident, condemning it as an attempt to intimidate the IHC judges.
This alarming development unfolded amidst heightened tensions following a letter from six IHC judges to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) regarding alleged interference in judicial affairs.
The subsequent formation of an inquiry commission underscores the gravity of the situation, indicating a concerted effort to address concerns and safeguard judicial independence.
The incident echoes previous security threats, such as the recovery of grenades and a threatening letter from Tehreek Tahaffuz Namoos-i-Pakistan in September last year, targeting judges and generals.
These events underscore the persistent challenges to security and stability faced by Pakistan’s judiciary and law enforcement agencies.
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