ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Chief Justice, Qazi Faez Isa, along with four other Supreme Court judges, also received threat letters containing a suspicious powdery substance and menacing messages. Similarly, Chief Justice Shahzad Malik Ahmed and other judges at the Lahore High Court also faced a similar threat earlier in the day.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations confirmed the distressing event during a hearing at the Islamabad High Court (IHC), where it was revealed that five judges, including Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, and Justice Amin-Ud-Din Khan, were targeted with such letters. Additionally, senior Justice Mansoor Ali Shah was also a recipient of a letter purportedly sent by a woman named Gul Shad. Concerns were raised about the suspicious substance, suspected to be anthrax powder, prompting the involvement of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) for investigation.
During the hearing, the DIG Operations informed the court that all envelopes containing letters and powdery substances had been sent for analysis, and efforts were underway to determine the source of the threats. However, there was criticism directed towards the police department for their inability to accurately decipher the postal stamps on the letters.
Further complicating matters, it was disclosed that judges at the Lahore High Court also received similar threatening letters on the same day. The IHC chief justice pressed the police officer for details on the steps taken by the department, including efforts to obtain CCTV footage and identify the post office from which the letters were sent. Initial investigations suggested that the letters originated from the General Post Office (GPO) in Rawalpindi.
The letters, signed under various names such as Resham and Reshma, pointed to a diverse set of senders, adding complexity to the investigation. In response to the alarming situation, a comprehensive investigation has been launched by the police, with the involvement of experts, to uncover evidence and trace the source of the threatening letters.
A case has been registered at the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Police Station in the federal capital, highlighting the severity of the situation and the urgency of the investigation.
