Pakistan puts Hindu judge Justice Bhagwandas under house arrest

Family members of the only Hindu judge, Justice Rana Bhagwandas, at the Pakistan Supreme Court have said that he had been put under house arrest, and that the Sindh Police had told him not to move out of his residence till further orders.

Karachi, Jan 13 : Family members of the only Hindu judge, Justice Rana Bhagwandas, at the Pakistan Supreme Court have said that he had been put under "house arrest", and that the Sindh Police had told him not to move out of his residence till further orders.

Justice Bhagwandas had a small stint as the country's Acting Chief Justice (ACJ) last year.

The former ACJ's family members reportedly said last evening that Justice Bhagwandas reached his Bath Island residence at about 5.30 pm when police cordoned off his home and asked him not to leave.

His wife was quoted as saying that police had told the judge not to leave his residence till further orders.

However, the police said that the judge was not put under house arrest, but his movements had been "restricted" in view of the prevailing terror environment in the country.

"He has been advised to restrict his movement in view of the terror environment prevailing in the city," the Dawn quoted Sindh police chief Azhar Ali Farooqi as saying.

The step had been taken as part of security measures to protect the judge's life, Farooqi said and added: "We have also enhanced security in the neighbourhood."

ANI