LAHORE – Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar has ordered thedistrict administration and the police to immediately remove all barriersoutside Jati Umra, Governor Hosue, and Hafiz Saeed’s residence until todaynight.

The orders came as a three-member apex court bench began hearing its suomotu case on several issues of public welfare, including the provision ofclean drinking water for which Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz arrived at thecourt’s Lahore Registry earlier today.

At first, the chief justice took up the issue of security barricades onpublic property. The court then ordered the authorities to remove thebarricades outside Nawaz’s Jati Umra residence, Shehbaz’s Model Townresidence, Governor House, Jamia Al Qadsia, Aiwan-e-Iqbal, and other areas.

Officials explained that the barricades have been erected due to securityconcerns, to which the chief justice remarked, “I have threats too, youshould alert your forces”.

He remarked that authorities should not keep the chief minister confined athome, observing that the “CM is an awaami aadmi [man of the people], heshould say Shehbaz Sharif is not scared of anyone”.

The court ordered the home department officials to assure the court thatthe barricades will be removed by tonight.

Latter, CJP also took notice of extrajudicial police encounters in Punjaband ordered the provincial police chief to submit a report in a week on thetotal encounters conducted in the province.

On Saturday, the three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of PakistanJustice Mian Saqib Nisar had summoned Shehbaz after expressing displeasureover a Punjab government report which revealed that 540 million gallons ofuntreated water was being disposed of in Ravi River, a source of drinkingwater for the city.