‘Toxic powder’ saga
Five more top court judges receive ‘threat letters’ today
Lahore
After several judges from the Supreme Court and high courts received letters containing ‘toxic powder’, the administration of the Lahore High Court (LHC) has devised new SOPs regarding letters being received in the name of jurists.
“New SOPs has been adopted for handling the letters being posted to the jurists,” the LHC’s administration said in a statement on Friday.
All courier companies and postmen have been restricted to mandatory clear all genre of letters and posts from the security room. A deputy superintendent police (DSP) ranked officers would undergo security checkup of the letters before they would be handed over to the relevant judges’ staff officer.
A postman namely Atif — who delivered the letters containing suspicious powdery substance to the judges’ offices — told that it was his routine work to deliver letters and he did not know what was inside the envelopes.
After the suspected power-laced letters, the Pakistan Post also took special measures for security of staffers and thorough inspection of postal letters, and other mails. It has been directed to provide masks and gloves to the staffers for their safety and security.
Subsequently, the Pakistan Post ordered entire staffers to carefully check letters and other mails, especially the mails in the names of judges, diplomats and other high-profile personalities, a notification read.
The postal staffers have also been directed to stay vigilant while booking and delivery of mails, it added.
Letters sent to five more top court judges today
Authorities concerned have so far failed to stop threatening posts inside envelopes filled with “toxic powder” as five more apex court judges received such letters.
In the latest development, the top judges who received threat letters via mail include Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, and Justice Ayesha Malik, sources told.
The suspicious letters have been handed over to the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) officials for further investigation, the sources added.
