Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif restated on Thursday that the government would launch an investigation into the receipt of threatening letters containing suspicious substances by numerous judges, including Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa. Chairing a federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad, Shehbaz emphasized that the matter should remain separate from political influences.
He made these remarks in the context of multiple judges, including those serving in the Supreme Court, Islamabad High Court, and Lahore High Court, receiving such intimidating letters. According to sources cited by Geo News, judges at the Supreme Court, including CJP Isa, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, and Justice Aminuddin Khan, received such letters on Wednesday.
This development follows earlier incidents where eight judges of the Islamabad High Court, including Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, received suspected anthrax-laced letters on Monday, while four Lahore High Court judges, including Justice Shujaat Ali Khan, Justice Shahid Bilal Hasan, Justice Alia Neelum, and Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh, received similar letters on Wednesday.
The issue of threatening letters emerged after the Supreme Court took suo motu notice of allegations made by the IHC’s chief justice and other judges against intelligence agencies.
Security of Chinese is top priority
Shifting focus to economic challenges, Prime Minister Shehbaz informed that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is set to disburse the final tranche of $1.1 billion from its $3 billion Stand-By Arrangement with Islamabad this month. Additionally, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb will engage with the IMF for another loan, although Shehbaz acknowledged that the IMF’s program conditions would be demanding.
Regarding privatization plans, Shehbaz assured the full implementation of Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) privatization schedule and mentioned an upcoming visit by a Turkish company delegation to discuss outsourcing the country’s airports.
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Moreover, the Prime Minister highlighted the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of Chinese nationals in Pakistan, especially after a tragic suicide attack in Shangla’s Besham city claimed the lives of six individuals, including five Chinese engineers. Shehbaz emphasized the need for seamless security arrangements for Chinese citizens within the country.