August 2, 2003	Saturday	Jumadi-us-Sani 3, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 1: The International Commission of Jurists, an international organization comprising eminent jurists, has expressed its shock at the killing of three judges in Pakistan after a jail siege on Friday.

Prisoners had taken hostage judges Asif Mumtaz Cheema, Saghir Anwar and Khalid Munir Ranjha who died as a result of gunfire when police stormed the jail to end the siege.

“We lament the deaths of three Pakistani judges,” said Linda Besharaty Movaed, legal adviser of the ICJ.”

Even though it is not known who fired at them, the government should have taken every precaution to guarantee the security of the judges, more so when possession of arms is rather common in Pakistani prisons and the risk of serious injury or death is high, the centre said.

Attacks against judges severely undermine the rule of law and the administration of justice. The ICJ implored the government of Pakistan to fully investigate the circumstances of the judges’ death and bring those responsible to justice.

The ICJ urged the government to guarantee the security and protection of all judges, particularly those who are at a risk when performing their professional duties.