Pakistan PM calls for 'thorough probe' into 'anthrax' letters received by 11 judges

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Thursday that the government will initiate an investigation into threatening letters containing a “suspicious powder” received by judges of the Supreme Court and high courts in Islamabad and Lahore.

Eight judges from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and three from the Lahore High Court reportedly received letters containing white powder suspected to be anthrax.

During a cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Sharif emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the matter, urging a responsible approach devoid of political influence.

“The government of Pakistan, with a sense of responsibility, will investigate this,” Sharif stated, as quoted by Dawn News.

The letters, enclosed in white envelopes sealed with cello tape, bore the names of the judges and their respective court addresses. They contained threatening messages, attributing responsibility for Pakistan’s societal challenges to the judges.

Upon discovering the suspicious powder upon opening the envelopes, the staff of two judges promptly reported the incident to the IHC registrar, who then summoned court security officials and law enforcement.

An FIR has been lodged regarding the incident, highlighting the incomplete address of the sender on the letters.

The letters while giving reference to Tehreek-i-Namoos Pakistan criticised the justice system, with a particular photo and English word “Bacillus Anthracis” included for the threat, the FIR said.

Similar letters arrived in the Supreme Court and the Lahore High Court (LHC) the next day, prompting the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) to register two cases in Islamabad and Lahore.

The letters in the top court were sent to Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, and Justice Aminuddin.

The letters sent by an unknown group threatened the judges of the Supreme Court for “rescuing evil”. Suspicious powder was found inside the envelopes and sent to the forensic lab.

The personal staff of the judges who received the threat found the letters in the daily mail received at the high court, said an official.

The official said the staff of all judges at the LHC was already alert in the wake of letters sent to the IHC judges.

Earlier on Thursday, the Islamabad Police said it was “conducting checks at the entry routes of the higher courts and the high-security zone”.

In a post on X, the police urged citizens to carry their identification documents.

The development comes more than a week after six IHC judges in a startling letter to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) members, complained regarding alleged interference by the country’s security apparatus in judicial matters.

Prime Minister Sharif recalled the developments in the matter and noted the Supreme Court’s suo motu proceedings about the allegations levelled by the IHC judges about interference in judicial affairs.

“We had fulfilled our responsibility and after that, these changes came,” he said.

Last week, Shehbaz met Chief Justice Isa and the two decided to form an inquiry commission, which was later approved by the federal cabinet.

However, ex-CJP Tassaduq Hussain Jillani - tasked to head the one-man inquiry commission - recused himself.

At the same time, the top court took suo motu notice of the matter.

With inputs from PTI