On Friday: Justice Ali Baqar Najafi from Lahore High Court became the most recent judge to receive a questionable letter, as per an official statement.
On Tuesday, it was discovered that all eight judges of the Islamabad High Court received letters in white envelopes sealed with cellophane tape the previous day. The judges’ names and the IHC address were written on the envelopes. Sources revealed that the letters contained a threatening message, accusing the judges of causing issues for the people of Pakistan.
Two judges’ staff members opened the envelopes and found a suspicious powder inside. This prompted them to report the matter to the IHC registrar, who then summoned the high court’s security police. As a result, a case was filed under section 507 (criminal intimidation through anonymous communication) of the Pakistan Penal Code and section 7 (penalty for acts of terrorism) of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
The FIR mentioned that the letters were sent with an incomplete sender’s address. The letters also referred to Tehreek-i-Namoos Pakistan and criticized the justice system. Additionally, a specific photo and the English term “Bacillus Anthracis” were included in the letters to convey the threat.
The following day, identical letters arrived at the Supreme Court and Lahore High Court, leading the Counter-Terrorism Department to register cases in Islamabad and Lahore. These letters were addressed to Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, and Justice Aminuddin at the Supreme Court, as well as Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan, senior puisne judge Justice Shujaat Ali Khan, Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan, Justice Aalia Neelum, and Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh at the Lahore High Court.
The letters, sent by an unidentified group, threatened the judges for allegedly “rescuing evil.” Upon discovery, suspicious powder was found inside the envelopes, prompting authorities to send samples to the Forensic Science Laboratory Islamabad for toxicological and chemical analysis.
Staff members discovered mysterious letters in the daily mail at the High Court, as reported by an anonymous source. This comes after the staff of judges at the Lahore High Court had already been on high alert due to letters sent to the Islamabad High Court judges. In response to these events, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that the government will conduct an investigation with responsibility.
This situation unfolded more than a week after six IHC judges sent a concerning letter to the Supreme Judicial Council members, alleging interference in judicial matters by the nation’s security apparatus. Today, Justice Najafi became the sixth LHC judge to receive a “suspicious” letter. According to Inspector Muhamad Anis of the Special Branch, Justice Najafi’s secretary received five letters, with one being deemed suspicious. The concerning letter was then handed over to the CTD for further examination. However, Inspector Anis did not disclose whether the letter contained any toxic substance or threatening content.
Investigators hunt source of ‘toxic letters’
As Prime Minister Shehbaz pledged to unravel the enigma of the “toxic letters” on Thursday, the CTD encountered challenges in their pursuit to identify those responsible for these missives. Investigators in Islamabad traced the letters sent to superior court judges to the General Post Office in Rawalpindi; however, the absence of CCTV cameras on the premises has hindered the identification process.
Upon opening the letters by the court staff, there was a widespread belief that the suspicious powder within the envelopes was ‘anthrax’, a hazardous substance causing infection upon skin contact. However, forensic examination revealed that the letters sent to LHC judges did not contain anthrax but rather “carbohydrates with arsenic traces.” Preliminary investigations indicated that the arsenic was not in its pure form.
“There were no traces of anthrax or any other toxic chemicals,” sources informed. They added that the investigating agencies were instructed to analyze the fingerprints on the envelopes to apprehend the perpetrators. The Punjab Safe City Authority was also directed to employ its surveillance cameras across the provincial capital to trace the senders of these suspicious letters.
Task force formed
In response to the concerning letters sent to LHC judges, a significant meeting was held in Lahore by the home department, involving key police and forensic officials. The gathering reviewed the presence of hazardous substances in the envelopes and did not dismiss the possibility of foreign agencies’ involvement. As a result, the investigation’s scope was broadened. To trace the perpetrators and their motives, a task force led by a DIG was established by the CTD.
To ensure the safety of judges and their staff, the home department, along with other involved agencies, has decided to provide judges with letter-scanning machines for thorough examination prior to opening any suspicious correspondence. Additionally, all LHC staff members will receive training and be equipped with appropriate tools to handle such potentially hazardous letters and items in a well-informed manner.
SC, IHC letters traced to GPO Rawalpindi
As the investigation in Islamabad progressed, the CTD team, led by DIG Shahzad Nadeem Bukhari, traced the threatening letters sent to the Supreme Court and the Islamabad High Court back to the General Post Office in Rawalpindi. Sources close to the investigation revealed to that after these “toxic” letters were delivered to the judges of the apex court and high courts, the team managed to confirm they were dispatched from the Rawalpindi GPO and mailed through a specific post box.
Although the letterbox has been identified, the identity of the sender remains unknown. The investigation team is now attempting to trace the sender using CCTV footage from the surrounding areas, and authorities have been requested to provide the relevant footage. However, it has been challenging to determine who brought these letters to the post office due to the lack of cameras within the crowded premises. As a result, the team has reached out to nearby offices and buildings to share their CCTV camera footage.
Islamabad Police Spokesperson Taqi Jawad informed that the CTD is handling the investigation, with DIG Operations Syed Shehzad Nadeem Bukhari personally overseeing the case. He expressed optimism that the team would soon identify the senders.
In response to the situation, the IHC administration has implemented several safety measures, including returning all letters without a proper sender’s address. The letters contained threats of potential harm from a toxic substance, with the phrase “Welcome to Bacillus anthracis!!!,” a human skull and bones photo, and an ultimatum for others to “repent” or face consequences.
