Pakistani Shia High Court Judges Receive Death Threats

http://en.shiapost.com/

Three Pakistani Shia judges of the Lahore High Court have received death threats from a banned sectarian organisation prompting the government to enhance their security.

A senior Punjab police officer said that the three Shia judges of High Court here had recently received threatening letters from unnamed person or organisation.

“However, the law enforcement agencies are suspecting anti-Shia organisation – Lashkar-e-Jhangvi – behind the threats to Justice Ali Baqar Najfi, Justice Muzahir Ali Naqvi and Justice Mazhar Iqbal,” he said. Additional police personnel have also been deployed at the court’s entry and exit points and outside the courtrooms. “The Elite Force commandos have also been deployed for the security of the three judges,” the official said.

According to the Lahore police, top Shia professionals have threats to their lives.

“There has been a general threat perception to top Shia professionals. The police could only provide security to those who have received threats from any sectarian group,” the official said. Three eminent Shia figures, an eye surgeon, a chartered accountant and a lawyer, were recently killed in Lahore. Shia organisation, Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen spokesman Muzahir Shigri told PTI that the three Shias died in targeted killings, pointing a finger at the LeJ.

“All the prominent Shia personalities including professionals are under threat from the banned sectarian groups especially LeJ and government must provide them security and take action against it (LeJ),” he said.

Shias make up about 20 per cent of Sunni-majority Pakistan’s population. They face religious persecution as many consider them to be heretics.