Eight judges of the Islamabad High Court, including Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, received threatening letters filled with a suspicious substance, sparking concerns about the security of the judiciary amidst allegations of interference by Pakistan’s intelligence agencies.
The development follows a recent letter addressed by six judges of the IHC to Supreme Court Chief Justice Qazi Faes Isa, complaining of meddling in judicial affairs by the country’s intelligence agency ISI.
Confirming the receipt of the letters, IHC Chief Justice Farooq mentioned during a court hearing that the incident caused delays in the day’s proceedings. When the staff of two judges opened the letters, they discovered powder inside, resulting in burning sensations in their eyes.
Immediate action was taken, with affected individuals using sanitizer and washing their hands as a precautionary measure. A team of experts from the Islamabad Police swiftly arrived at the Islamabad High Court to examine the suspicious powder.
Powder mostly used by intelligence agencies
The letters, purportedly written by a woman named Resham, wife of Waqar Hussain, did not disclose her address. However, reports suggest that ISI Sector Commander Islamabad, Brigadier Fahim Raza sent threatening letters to the judges of Islamabad High Court in the name of Tehrik Namus Pakistan. In this work, cosmetic powder was converted into anthrax and poured into the line. This method is commonly used by global intelligence agencies to threaten targets and ISI also tried to use it. Now the samples are being sent to Punjab French Laboratory, Lahore for analysis and desired results.
Concerned authorities, including the Inspector General of Islamabad Police and the Deputy Inspector General of Security, were summoned to address the matter urgently.
The letters, addressed to multiple judges, raised concerns about the safety of the judiciary and have been handed over to the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) for further investigation.
This incident comes on the heels of Chief Justice Isa’s announcement of suo motu proceedings into the letter by the IHC judges regarding interference by intelligence agencies, underscoring the gravity of the situation and the need for swift action to ensure the security and integrity of the judicial system in Pakistan.