KARACHI, Jan 12: The former acting chief justice of Pakistan, Justice Rana Bhagwandas, was put under house arrest on Saturday, according to family sources.

Sindh police chief Azhar Ali Farooqi, however, said the former judge was not under house arrest. “He has been advised to restrict his movement in view of the terror environment prevailing in the city,” he added.

The former ACJ’s family told Dawn that Mr Bhagwandas reached his Bath Island residence at about 5.30pm after administering oath to the newly-elected governing body members of the Karachi Bar Association, when police cordoned off his home and asked him not to leave.

Mr Farooqi, however, said the step had been taken as part of security measures to protect the judge’s life. “We have also enhanced security in the neighbourhood,” he added.

Meanwhile, the wife of Justice Bhagwandas told Dawn that police had told the judge not to leave his residence till further orders.