LHC to Hear Petition on SC's Fundamental Rights Monument

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has agreed to hear a writ petition seeking details about the Supreme Court's recently established "fundamental rights monument" within the apex court premises, with the petitioner arguing that the refusal to provide information violates the Constitution.

The petition, filed by lawyer Abuzar Salman Khan Niazi, seeks answers to six questions from the SC registrar regarding the project, including the process adopted for sanctioning the project, the authority responsible for granting approval, and the total cost of the project. The petitioner claims that the information is of public importance and that the people of Pakistan have a right to know about the entire record of the monument.

In a separate incident, LHC security personnel recovered a pistol and 15 bullets from a suspicious person at the main gate on Monday, highlighting concerns over security at the courthouse. The suspect was handed over to the Old Anarkali police for further investigation. Additionally, a suspect was arrested at the Lahore Sessions Court with a loaded pistol, which discharged unexpectedly, but no injuries were reported. The incidents have sparked concern over the safety of individuals involved in blasphemy cases.

The blasphemy case incident has led to calls for stronger measures to protect those accused, with Pastor Imran Amanat of LEAD Ministries Pakistan urging authorities to provide enhanced security for those accused of blasphemy. Sardar Mushtaq Gill, founder of LEAD Ministries Pakistan, emphasized the need to address the vulnerability of those accused under the blasphemy law, which often leads to attacks by hardliners.

The LHC's decision to hear the petition on the fundamental rights monument and the recent security incidents at the courthouse highlight the need for transparency and security in the judicial system, and the court's response will be closely watched in the coming days.