IHC turns down Swati’s plea

Judgement emphasised that a system could be created to link police stations across the country

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) said on Friday rejected the plea of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Azam Swati for seeking information about the cases lodged against him in other provinces, saying that the high court could not issue order to other provinces.

Announcing the reserved decision of the IHC on Swati’s request, Chief Justice Aamir Farooq said that as per the Supreme Court decision in the Sughran Bibi case, on one cause there cannot be more than one FIR registered against a person. However, he added that a mechanism could be created to implement the apex court ruling.

The ruling said that cases against Azam Swati registered in the areas outside the jurisdiction of the IHC, therefore, the ruling said, the court could not issue orders to Sindh and Balochistan. it asked the petitioner to approach the relevant forums.

The judgment emphasised that a system could be created to link police stations across the country. It said that the interior ministry or any other agency might put in place a mechanism to make information about the FIR available. Authorities might also suggest any other mechanism in this regard, it added.