The instructions were issued during the hearing of a Human Rights case regarding the target killing of lawyers in the twin cities and subjecting them to severe torture which engulfed fear among the lawyers' fraternity.
A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja and Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan resumed hearing in the case by the lawyers of Rawalpindi Bar Council.
During the course of proceeding, the bench was apprised that in recent past, few lawyers were abducted and subjected to severe torture and nothing had been done for the arrest of accused behind this target killing and violence against lawyers.
The bench was apprised that Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ahmed advocate was abducted on May 3 and later on killed after torturing him.
The lawyers further stated that Basharatullah Advocate was also abducted by unknown persons on April 21 and then was left in some unknown place after torturing him brutally.
The other two lawyers named Mujeeb-ur-Rehman and Sardar Manzar Bashir Khan were abducted on April 27 and May 9.
Both the lawyers were chased by some unknown vehicles with tinted glasses and then were left in pathetic condition at some unknown place.
Zulfiqar Cheema, CCPO Rawalpindi apprised the court that they had issued challans to over 2000 vehicles during April 01 to May 15 and the process was still continuing.
The lawyers, who were present in the apex court expressed concern over the prevailing situation of fear and agony in which the lawyers were not feeling protected and safe.
The bench stated that it was the duty of the government to provide security to all its citizens and the law enforcing agencies should deal with the situation accordingly.
The Chief Justice also directed the secret agencies to join hands with the other law enforcing agencies including police to dig the culprits.
Later, the court directed the IG Police Islamabad and the IG Police Punjab to follow the standard operating procedures for carrying out investigations.
The court also directed the legal fraternity of the twin cities to be vigilant so as to meet any kind of untoward incident.
Later, the court adjourned further hearing till May 24 while directing the police to identify the miscreants behind this target killing and torturing the lawyers.