LAHORE: The Customs Appellate Tribunal lacks security for the protection of the staff, including members.
Sources informed Customs Today that the tribunal members have written to the SP security Lahore many times in this regard. They added Member Judicial Ghulam Murtaza Bhatti had written a letter to the SP security to provide security to the Customs Appellate Tribunal a few days before the Wahga attack.
On the request, the Police Department had contacted the tribunal and asked about the security needs. The tribunal had told the police about requirements, they said.
Sources informed that the police assured the tribunal authorities regarding the deployment of personnel on immediate basis, but no measures had been taken in this regard.
They added terrorism was a menace that was faced by Pakistan nowadays and no place was safe. “The terrorist incidents in Peshawar school and Wahga border took place in recent days that could not be denied,” they said.
They also said that security of all important places should be ensured on immediate basis because it was the need of the hour. They added the tribunal heard appeals of people regarding the customs matters and a large number of people and lawyers visited the tribunal daily. The tribunal members were the asset of Pakistan and they need security.
They demanded security personnel should be deployed at the tribunal to secure the judges, staff, lawyers and appellants. They said that police was responsible to provide security to all courts.
Talking to Customs Today, lawyers said that they were surprised about the lack of security at such an important place. They said the government should take actions regarding the safety of tribunal.
