ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, outraged at closure of roads outside the residence of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif ’s son Hamza Shahbaz in Lahore, ordered Punjab chief secretary to remove all hurdles put in the name of security and open the roads to public immediately.

Nisar said that Hamza should consider moving to a place where he has adequate protection against perceived threats to his life instead of tormenting other people.

He was presiding over a hearing regarding the placement of security barriers on roads to facilitate VVIP movement in Lahore. He had taken suo moto notice of the disturbance such protocols caused on the roads. Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Saaed told the court that barriers have been placed and a gate had been constructed on the road leading up to the entrance of Hamza’s house.

Nisar expressed displeasure over non-compliance of his orders on the matter, asking the chief secretary why the barriers had not been removed. “The life of Hamza is in danger. That is why we have placed barriers on the entrance to his house,” Saeed replied. The top judge reprimanded the secretary again, and told him that the court did not know anyone with the name of Hamza, to which the Punjab government official said that Hamza is the chief minister’s son and a Member of National Assembly (MNA).

“Should we not call Hamza and ask him about the threats to his life?” the chief justice asked. “Even if there are threats to his life, he should consider moving his residence instead of disturbing the common people. Why do not these people go to places where their lives are not in danger?” Justice Nisar noted that even though he was the top judge, there were no barriers outside his house. He directed the secretary to order the immediate removal of the barriers placed outside Hamza’s residence and warned of drastic action if he received another complaint regarding it.

‘BILAWAL TWEET’

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that Pakistan will suffer if the judges continue to play politician.

In a post on the social media platform Twitter, he noted that a Law Reforms Commission under the supervision of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) had already been formulated, with top judges from all four provinces as members.