Mandokhail’s plea seeking FIR against Awan rejected

KARACHI:

A local court rejected on Saturday the plea seeking the registration of a case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Firdous Asiq Awan.

The West additional district and sessions court judge issued the reserved verdict over Pakistan Peoples Party Member of National Assembly (MNA) Qadir Khan Mandokhail's plea during a hearing at the Karachi City Court.

The judge asked the MNA to file the case at the police station concerned in Islamabad where the incident happened.

According to the written verdict, the accused can be tried under the Section 179 of the Criminal Procedure (CrPC) 1898, only in the jurisdiction of the police station where the offence has been committed. Therefore the petitioner should approach a relevant forum in Islamabad.

The plea is not maintainable for not being under the authority of the West additional district and sessions court, read the verdict.

After the announcement of verdict, Mandokhail's counsel issued a legal notice to Awan, stating that the MNA is a reputable person in his constituency and social circle.

Awan has been asked in the notice to offer a written apology to Mandokhail for disrespecting him during a live TV show within a week and the apology should be published/broadcast on print and electronic media. Moreover, a compensation of Rs58b has also been demanded from Awan for causing damage to Mandokhail's reputation.

The MNA had reached out to the court against the police for not registering a case over his complaint against Awan for slapping and abusing him during a talk show going live on TV.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 11^th, 2021.