FIA plea to dispose of Gharida Farooqi’s case turned down

Inquiry officer says the investigation agency does not have any treaty with Twitter


Rana Yasif April 01, 2022
PHOTO: FILE

LAHORE:

An additional district and sessions judge turned down the Federal Investigation Authority’s (FIA) request to dispose of a petition seeking an FIR against TV anchorperson Gharida Farooqi, allegedly hurting the sentiments of Muslims through her statement on social media about sacrificial animals at Eidul Azha.

As the proceedings commenced, the FIA’s inquiry officer told the court that Pakistan had no treaty with Twitter, adding they have no access to the social media giant, requesting the court to dispose of the petition.

The petitioner’s counsel advocate Ghulam Mustafa Chaudhry vehemently opposed the request, adding neither FIA summoned both sides to probe the matter nor it conducted a fair inquiry.

Read more: Court attaches IO's salary in Gharida Farooqi’s inquiry

Mustafa prayed to the court that fair inquiry is required as it is a matter wherein the sentiments of Muslims were hurt.

The judge fixed the next date with direction to the FIA’s inquiry officer to submit a detailed report after providing an opportunity of hearing to both sides.

It is pertinent to mention that in previous proceedings the judge had attached a half month's salary of an Investigation Officer (IO) over not complying with court’s orders.

It is worth mentioning that petitioner Mehar Irfan Jahangir had filed a petition through advocate Ghulam Mustafa Chaudhry who contended the court accused Gharidah Farooqi has not only insulted and undermined the Islamic injunctions on the auspicious occasion of Eidul Azha but also incited Muslims to rebel against the Quranic injunctions and Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) and other Prophets (peace and blessings of Allah be upon them).

The counsel Chaudhry added that the sacrifice of animals is a permanent act of worship that the Almighty Allah has combined with prayer. He urged the court to register a criminal case against the accused Farooqi.

On July 21, Farooqi posted a tweet saying: “Spare an animal’s life if you can. Embrace the philosophy behind the incident and the divine message, in your life, this day is not to mark meat eating. Love animals. Let them alive”.

Later, the petitioner moved to the FIA cybercrime for getting registered an FIR against the accused anchorperson but all in vain. Later, he filed an application seeking registration of a case against the accused woman where the IO was directed to submit comments/report of this incident but he continued arguing that the petitioner is not visiting FIA’s office as a result of which the inquiry is going pending.

Also read: Six celebrity Eid ul Azha looks we loved

Advocate Chaudhry presented relevant documents which proved the petitioner’s presence at the FIA’s office. He argued that the IO, in connivance with the accused party, is lingering on the matter one after another pretext, putting all onus on the petitioner’s shoulders and misleading the court

He said that the IO has been issued notices but he did not bother to submit the report before the court or appear in the court. The conduct of the IO shows he has joined hands with the accused party, he added.

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