SHC orders police to provide ‘adequate security’ to trader

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed on Monday the police authorities to provide adequate protection to a trader, who is said to be receiving threats to his life from a banned outfit to pay extortion.

A two-judge bench, headed by SHC Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh, was hearing a petition filed by Saeedur Rehman, who moved against senior police officials for not providing him security.

The petitioner said he is a trader and was approached by the Jamaatul Ahrar (JA) and the Taliban to pay extortion and had received threats to his life in case of non-payment. He told the judges that JA had also killed the petitioner’s father and were now threatening him to do the same to him.

Rehman said he had moved applications with the police, requesting them to provide him adequate security. On the court’s order, police guards were provided to the petitioner, but were recently withdrawn, the lawyer said.

On Monday, the petitioner’s lawyer moved an application seeking contempt of court proceedings against the concerned SSP and others for taking back his security despite the court’s directions.

The lawyer argued the alleged contemnors’ attitude tantamount to willfully and deliberately committing contempt of the court’s order.

Therefore, they may be proceeded against for contempt, he pleaded.

CJ Sheikh took notice of the attitude of the senior police officials. “It is the duty of the state to provide security to every citizen,” remarked the top provincial judge.

The bench directed the SSP concerned to provide adequate security to the petitioner. Adjourning the hearing till today (Tuesday), the bench warned that it would personally summon the IG police in case the court’s directions were not complied with.

Source: The Express Tribune