IHC quashes multiple FIRs filed for single offence

Court suspends cases in Peshawar, Lahore against government officials based on Javed Latif's statements against Imran

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has suspended multiple cases, filed in Lahore and Peshawar for a single offence, up to the extent of secretary information, PTV managing director and other petitioners.

The cases were filed against the government officials in different cities across the country following the press conference by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Mian Javed Latif on the national broadcaster against former premier and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan.

“Can multiple cases be filed based on tweets, vlogs or programmes seen in various areas of the country?” the court questioned during the hearing of the case, seeking judicial assistance from the Pakistan Bar Council, the Supreme Court Bar Association and the Islamabad High Court Bar Association.

Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, in his written order, said that petitioner was a senior government official and apparently the offence of terrorism was not committed. “The Supreme Court of Pakistan in the Sughra Bibi case has determined that only one FIR can be registered for one offence,” the court observed.

“The petitioners are facing harassment and mental agony. To their extent, the cases of Peshawar and Lahore are suspended,” the order said and added that any fresh FIR against the petitioners on similar grounds would be subject to judicial permission.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 18^th, 2022.