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.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a group associated with Iran-backed militias, claimed responsibility for a drone attack targeting the Ramat David airbase in Haifa, Israel. The assault occurred at dawn on Thursday, marking a significant escalation in tensions in the region.

In their statement, the Islamic Resistance emphasized their commitment to continuing attacks against what they term as “enemy strongholds.” They framed the Ramat David airbase operation as part of their ongoing resistance against the ‘Israeli occupation’, citing support for the people of Gaza and retaliation for alleged Israeli atrocities against Palestinian civilians.

The statement said, “part of the second phase of operations against the occupation, aimed at supporting our people in Gaza and retaliation for the Zionist massacres perpetrated against defenseless Palestinian civilians.”

This attack follows closely on the heels of an Israeli airstrike on an Iranian embassy in Syria, which resulted in the deaths of high-ranking officials from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). That incident has heightened the possibility of further assaults on Israeli facilities by Iran-backed proxy groups, such as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.

The escalation underscores the volatile situation in the region and raises concerns about the potential for further violence and retaliation between Iran-backed groups and Israel. Israeli authorities have yet to issue an official response to the attack on the air base, but it is likely to prompt heightened security measures and potential retaliatory actions.

Pakistan’s counter-terrorism police have conducted multiple raids resulting in the arrest of at least 12 suspects in connection with a recent suicide attack case that claimed the lives of five Chinese workers and their Pakistani driver in the Shangla area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The detainees, though not directly involved in the attack, are believed to have provided assistance to the perpetrators, according to officials.

Last week’s incident unfolded when a suicide bomber, driving an explosives-laden vehicle, targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers en route from Islamabad to their camp in Dasu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The attack highlighted the ongoing security challenges faced by Chinese nationals working on various projects and incompetence of Pakistan.

Afghan link in the attack

Authorities disclosed that some of the detained individuals had ties to Pakistani militant groups and were actively involved in transporting the explosive-laden vehicle used in the attack to Shangla district. The arrests were made based on intelligence gathered, including information extracted from a SIM card recovered from the suicide bomber.

While the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has denied involvement in the attack, Pakistan’s investigation hints towards the involvement of TTP and the attack being orchestrated from the Afghan soil. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has sought to defuse tensions by swiftly reaching out to the Chinese embassy in Islamabad and ordering a joint investigation into the matter.

In response to the attack, the Chinese embassy in Islamabad has urged Pakistan to conduct a thorough investigation, punish the perpetrators, and enhance security measures to safeguard Chinese citizens working in the country. The bodies of the deceased Chinese personnel were repatriated to Wuhan aboard a special Pakistani military plane on Monday.

Amid escalating security concerns, Beijing has announced plans to bolster security measures to protect its workers involved in CPEC projects. The attack underscores the complex security landscape in Pakistan and the challenges faced by both Pakistani and foreign nationals operating in the region.

In a shocking development, Salwan Momika, a former Iraqi militia leader turned atheist critic of Islam, was reportedly discovered deceased in Norway on Tuesday. Momika, known for his fervent advocacy of “free speech” and his highly controversial act of publicly burning the Quran, had recently relocated to Norway from Sweden.

Describing himself as “a liberal atheist critic and thinker”, Momika gained international attention in June 2023 when he made headlines by stomping on a copy of the Quran and subsequently setting it ablaze outside Stockholm’s largest mosque. The provocative act, captured on video by a friend, sparked widespread debate and condemnation.

Momika’s migration to Norway followed his acquisition of a Swedish residency permit in 2021. His departure from Iraq in 2018 was driven by his pursuit of asylum, amidst his outspoken criticism of Islam, despite his Christian background.

Despite being a professed atheist, Momika’s confrontational stance against Islam earned him the ire of Islamic countries, particularly during his residence in Sweden. He vehemently denounced the Quran as “the most dangerous book in the world.”

In a significant turn of events in the ongoing Middle East crisis, the consular annex of Iran embassy in Damascus was destroyed by Israeli air strikes on Monday. The attack resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals, including a high-ranking Revolutionary Guard commander, further exacerbating regional tensions.

Following the attack, the Iranian officials vowed a strong retaliation, raising concerns about escalating violence amid the ongoing Gaza war.

Among those killed were Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and another senior officer from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps named Brigadier General Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, described as a coordinator for the Quds Force, along with Hossein Aman Elahi, Mehdi Jalalati, Mohsen Sedaghat, Ali Aghababaee, and Ali Salehi Roozbahani. Reports indicate that the bombing was carried out by Israeli warplanes in Damascus’s Mezzeh district, prompting widespread condemnation.

Crime will not go unanswered: Hezbollah

Meanwhile, Iran-backed actors in the region have begun to react. Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy in Lebanon has issued a stern statement pledging retaliation. They warned that Israel would face consequences for the killing of high-ranking Iranian Revolutionary Guards in the strike on the country’s consulate in Damascus, Syria, the previous day.

In a statement, Hezbollah declared, “Certainly, this crime will not go unanswered, and the enemy will face punishment and revenge.” The attack on Iranian embassy and, more importantly, the killing of Zahedi has taken Hezbollah and Israel at loggerheads mounting further escalation in the conflict as the role of the slain Zahedi was deemed crucial to Hezbollah’s operations in Lebanon. He was the in charge of arming and coordinating with Hezbollah and other pro-Iranian militias in Lebanon and Syria, for a long time and for the same reason, Israel was tracking him for a long time. Reports suggest that Israel even notified the US, minutes before the attack but didn’t sought the green light.

Widespread condemnation of Iran embassy attack

According to reports the bombing was carried out by Israeli warplanes in the Mezzeh district of Damascus. The attack started a wave of criticism and condemnation. Syria’s foreign minister Faisal Mekdad condemned the bombing saying, “We strongly condemn this atrocious terrorist attack that targeted the Iranian consulate building in Damascus and killed a number of innocents.”

Saudi Arabia has also condemned the attack, labeling it a breach of international diplomatic laws and diplomatic immunity regulations. Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi also expressed strong condemnation. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, “The ministry vehemently rejects the targeting of diplomatic facilities under any pretext, as it violates international diplomatic laws and diplomatic immunity regulations.” Similar criticism has been voiced by the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Russia, Iran, Jordan, and Oman in response to the attack.

However, Israel’s military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari asserted that the targeted building was not a consulate or embassy, but rather a military structure belonging to the Quds forces, disguised as a civilian facility. He highlighted a separate incident on Monday, where a drone attack on a naval base in southern Israel was directed by Iran, resulting in no injuries.

Iran’s reaction

Iran’s ambassador to Syria, Hossein Akbari, confirmed that the strike targeted a consular building within the embassy compound, emphasizing that his residence occupied the top two floors and remained unharmed. Notably, while Israel has previously targeted Iran’s military installations in Syria, this marked the first instance of an attack on its embassy. Akbari remarked, “This is perhaps the first time that the Zionist regime allows itself to attack an official building of the Islamic Republic of Iran embassy, which had the flag of the Islamic Republic raised on top of it.” Akbari pledged retaliation for the strike “at the same magnitude and harshness”.

Furthermore, Iran’s UN mission denounced the attack as a “flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter, international law, and the foundational principle of the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises.” It reiterated Tehran’s stance, asserting its right “to take a decisive response” in light of the situation.

US denied involvement in Iran embassy airstrike

Iran alleges that the attack was executed using F-35 warplanes. Considerably, Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi is the most senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officer to be killed since the 2020 U.S. assassination of Qassen Soleimani in 2020. Having clear idea about the possible escalation and ramifications, the US has swiftly denied its involvement in the attack. Reportedly, a senior US official has said that US has conveyed it directly to Iran.

Nevertheless, the attack on embassy is a strategic blow and a self incriminating act by Israel. The embassies are diplomatically immune under the international law and being a state actor such an action is a direct attack on the sovereignty and integrity of another country. The possibility of an unprecedentedly heightening escalation is at the all time high in the ongoing crisis. Most importantly, the attack has given Iran an opportunity to enter the conflict directly and soon a third world war can be anticipated.