SC orders removal of street barriers outside Hamza's residence

LAHORE: The Supreme Court on Sunday directed the provincial government to immediately remove security barriers placed outside the residence of MNA Hamza Shahbaz.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, gave this direction while hearing a suo motu case pertaining to blockade of roads at the apex court’s Lahore registry.

The bench came down hard on the Punjab chief secretary for flouting its orders with regard to removal of street barriers from outside the lawmaker’s residence.

He informed that a security gate installed in the street near Hamza Shahbaz’s house was removed, but barriers were still there for security purposes.

CJP Nisar asked him to explain as to who posed threat to the MNA, prompting him to install security barriers outside his residence in a zigzag manner.

“Who is Hamza and I don’t know any Hamza,” the chief justice said. On this, the chief secretary replied Hamza was a member of parliament and son of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

If there was any threat to him, why didn’t he move to a safe place, CJP asked. “Why cannot these people reside where there is no life threat,” he continued.

“I am chief justice, but security barriers have not been erected outside my residence,” he said.

CJP Nisar warned that he would travel around the city in a private car to ascertain whether or not security barriers were removed from the streets.

Taking exception to security guards taking bath in the open outside the lawmaker’s residence, he warned that if the practice didn’t stop, he would take strict action in this regard.