LAHORE, Oct 25: The Lahore High Court has refuted a news item about the departure of District and Sessions Judge Syed Pervaiz Ali Shah from the country owing to life threats from religious extremists.

Mr Shah being the presiding officer of a Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court had awarded death sentence on two counts to Mumtaz Qadri, murderer of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer.

The clarification issued by LHC Registrar Sohail Nasir said the judge and his family flew to Saudi Arabia to perform Haj. The judge had acquired an official permission from the high court in this regard.