KARACHI, May 22: The federal interior secretary, the provincial chief secretary, the home secretary, the inspector-general of police and the capital city police officer on Tuesday appeared before the Sindh High Court in response to a court notice issued to them in a contempt petition moved by lawyers, and were asked to file their replies by June 1, the next date of hearing.

The petitioners, Sindh High Court Bar Association President Abrar Hasan, Pakistan Bar Council member Yasin Khan Azad, Sindh Bar Council member Salahuddin Gandapur and Karachi Bar Association President Iftikhar Javed Kazi, said that on a petition moved by the Pakistan International Human Rights Organisation, the high court had ordered the administration on May 11 to provide ‘foolproof security on the route of his choice’ to Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on his arrival in Karachi on May 12.

The May 11 court order said: “…In our opinion, it is the duty of the federal government and the government of Sindh to accord foolproof security/protection for the Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan. Consequently, we would direct the federal government as well as the government of Sindh to ensure that such security measures are taken during the CJ’s visit on the route of his choice.”

However, the petitioners said, the night intervening between May 11 and 12 witnessed total violation of all the assurances extended by the respondent governments and their officers. The entire route from the airport to the SHC building was blocked with containers, buses and mini-buses with deflated tyres. The access to the City and Malir District Courts was also sealed. Not only lawyers but judges also had to cross hurdles in order to enter the SHC building.

Without naming the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, the petitioners said a partner in the ruling coalition was, meanwhile, allowed to hold a rally close to the Quaid-i-Azam’s Mazar and the SHC building. The administration was informed of the situation repeatedly and top officials were called by the SHC chief justice on May 12 but they failed to comply with the order of May 11. The city was virtually being ruled by persons who were neither in uniform nor travelled in official vehicles. The police officials expressed their helplessness. The respondent officers, they said, should be tried for contempt.

Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah, Chief Secretary Shakeel Durrani, Home Secretary Brig (Retd) Ghulam M. Mohtaram Naqvi, IGP Niaz A. Siddiqui and CCPO Azhar Farooqui appeared before a division bench on Tuesday. Their counsel, Advocates A. Q. Halepota and Mohammad Ashraf Kazi, sought copies of the petition and time for submitting replies after filing their powers of attorney. Bar representatives and other lawyers raised slogans as the respondents entered the SHC premises and the courtroom.

They said they were accompanied by a strong security contingent but none was available to guard the airport-SHC route on May 12.

Justices Anwar Zaheer Jamali and Mohammad Athar Saeed, who constitute the division bench seized of the petition, allowed the respondents’ request and adjourned further proceedings to June 1 for rejoinders.

CAMPAIGN: Lawyers in the Sindh High Court, the City Courts and the Malir District Court on Tuesday continued their campaign for the independence of judiciary by boycotting court proceedings for one hour, from 10.30am to 11.30am, and pledged to go ahead with the drive during the two-month court holidays.