Supreme Court, National Assembly implement new security measures

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan has banned the carrying of mobile phones into courtrooms, following the leak of a picture of former premier Imran Khan during a video link hearing of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) amendments case.

Concurrently, the National Assembly Secretariat has introduced new security standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the Parliament House, aimed at reducing congestion and bolstering security.

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The Supreme Court’s decision comes in the wake of a widely circulated picture on social media, showing Imran Khan sitting in Adiala Jail during his appearance via video link before the SC. The SC staff have now barred law clerks and lawyers from bringing their cell phones into the courtroom, requiring them to leave these devices outside.

Journalists, who were already restricted from carrying cell phones into the SC courtroom, will continue to adhere to this rule. An investigation by the Supreme Court Police is underway to identify the individual responsible for taking and leaking the photograph, suspected to have been taken by someone positioned on the left side of the courtroom.

Simultaneously, the National Assembly Secretariat has enforced new SOPs for the Parliament House, primarily aimed at curbing overcrowding and enhancing security. These measures include the prohibition of non-essential persons and a ban on video recordings by TikTokers, Vloggers, and YouTubers within the building.

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The new SOPs also impose restrictions on media representatives, who are now forbidden from stopping and engaging lawmakers in the corridors. This measure is intended to allow lawmakers to perform their duties without interruptions.

Additionally, any individual found violating the video recording ban will face confiscation of their mobile phones and other recording devices and will be removed from the premises.

Furthermore, the SOPs stipulate that Senate card holders will no longer have access to the National Assembly, and stricter security protocols will be enforced at all entry points, including the parliament gate.

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Relevant institutions have been instructed to implement these security measures immediately to ensure the privacy and security of parliamentary operations.