LAHORE – Unidentified people fired at the outside of the residence of Supreme Court judge Justice Ijazul Ahsan’s residence in Model Town, Lahore in two separate incidents, local media reported on Sunday.
The first firing incident occurred at 10:45 pm Saturday night and it again happened at 9:10 am on Sunday morning. No casualties were reported in the attacks.
Ahsan was a member of the bench who had heard high profile Panamagate case against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Justice Ahsan and Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar often spend the weekend in Lahore where they take up several cases related to public interest and other matters at the apex court’s Lahore registry.
Ahsan was also among the judges who announced the verdict in disqualification period case this week. The court had unanimously announced that the disqualification under Article 62 (1)(f) of the Constitution was for a lifetime, sealing the political career of former Premier Nawaz Sharif and PTI’s former Secretary General Jahangir Tareen for life.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/sc-to-announce-verdict-in-disqualification-duration-case-on-friday/
He is also the monitoring judge in the corruption cases being heard by an accountability court against the members of the Sharif family.
Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar also visited the residence of the Ijazul Ahsan and summoned Inspector General of Punjab to probe the matter. The chief justice is said to be himself monitoring the matter.
Forensic teams visited the house of the top judge and collected evidence from the crime scene. Initial investigation says one bullet hit the main gate of the house while another bullet spot has been found on kitchen’s wall.
Ahsan was appointed as the judge of Pakistan’s top court in June 2016. He had taken oath as the new chief justice of Lahore High Court (LHC) in November 2015.
Condemnation
Supreme Court Bar Association President Pir Kaleem has condemned the firing incident at the residence of the top judge. He called for forming a joint investigation team to probe the matter.
Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif taking notice of the incident summoned a report from IG Punjab. He also ordered the authorities to arrest the culprits as soon as possible.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan also strongly condemned the firing at the judge’s house. He said, “These Sicilian-mafia-like tactics to pressurise senior judiciary are unacceptable in any democracy. PTI stands firmly behind the Judiciary & Rule of Law…”.
https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/985422359426412544
