LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Sunday ordered Punjab police Inspector General (IG) Arif Nawaz to open all roads blocked in the name of security outside the Model Town and Jati Umra residences of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and his elder brother former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

Chief Minister Sharif was present in the court when the chief justice asked Punjab Advocate General Shakilur Rehman Khan and the IG to cite a law that allowed the chief minister to block the road outside his house.

Headed by CJP Nisar, a three-judge bench was hearing a suo motu case regarding blockade of roads in the city by politicians, private people and government installations. Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik and Justice Ijazul Ahsan were other members of the bench.

During the hearing, the CJP observed that Chief Minister Sharif was a public office holder and he should live among the public.

CJP seeks opening of roads outside JuD chief’s house, Minhajul Quran, Taseer’s house

“Even I have been receiving constant threats,” he said when an additional chief secretary (home) cited serious security concerns to justify road blockade outside the chief minister’s camp office and residence. The CJP said he even refused to take Rangers’ security and had not blocked any road outside his house.

“As he claims to be Khadim-i-Aala, he should not fear anyone but Allah,” CJP Nisar said.

“Go and construct bomb-proof walls for your houses, have snipers on rooftops, but do not block roads,” the chief justice told Chief Secretary Zahid Saeed turning down his request to review the road opening order.

The chief secretary took a plea that there had been a suicide attack outside Arfa Karim Tower, which claimed lives of many policemen. He said intelligence reports confirmed that target of the attack was the chief minister.

IG Nawaz received a good bashing from the chief justice for his repeated requests for withdrawal of the order. “You should have no issue when your chief minister himself volunteered before the court,” the chief justice said to the IG.

The CJP directed the IG to ensure compliance of the order by Sunday midnight. “If you fail to submit a compliance report, the court will decide your fate,” the chief justice warned the police chief. “You are not going to stay as the IG even if the chief minister wants to retain you.”

The CJP also ordered the IG to open roads outside Jamia Qadsia in Chauburji, Johar Town residence of Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, Idara Minhajul Quran of Dr Tahirul Qadri in Model Town, residence of slain governor Salmaan Taseer, passport office on Abbot Road, Aiwan-i-Adl, office of the IG on Church Road and the office of City 42 television on Jail Road.

The chief justice deferred the matter of blocked roads outside the residence of the Rangers director general, Police Lines Qila Gujjar Singh, Intelligence Bureau office, Chinese consulate, Iranian consulate and Data Darbar.

Meanwhile, in compliance with court orders, the capital city police, later on Sunday, removed security barricades outside 16 places.

The court had ordered the IG to remove the barricades outside Nawaz Sharif’s Jati Umra residence, Shahbaz Sharif’s Model Town residence and office, Governor House, Aiwan-i-Iqbal, Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed’s residence, Jamia Al Qadsia seminary, residence of slain governor Salmaan Taseer, Qilla Gujjar Singh police station, passport office, Dr Tahirul Qadri’s residence and Minhajul Quran Secretariat in Model Town, Institute of Minhajul Husain in Nawab Town, Aiwan-i-Adl, City 42 channel’s office on Jail Road, Jamia Tul Muntazir in Nawab Town and inspector general of police’s office by Sunday midnight.

Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Dr Haider Ashraf told Dawn that in compliance with the court order they had removed blockades from all 16 places and opened the roads for traffic.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2018