PAT lawyers attempt to file FIRs against PM, 21 others at ‘abandoned’ police station

Sources say the police station has been shut since the LHC upheld sessions court’s decision to register FIRs

LAHORE: A day after the Lahore High Court upheld a session court’s decision to register FIRs against the PML-N’s top leadership, a team of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) lawyers arrived at the Faisal Town police station to implement the court’s order.

A team of PAT lawyers led by Minhajul Quran’s counsel Mansoorur Rehman Afridi arrived at Faisal Town police station on Wednesday with the LHC order in hand. However, no duty officer was present at the station to approve the registration of the FIRs.

“We are being asked to register the FIR after one hour,” a PAT lawyer said, adding that their team has been at the police station for over an hour but there’s no one present to register the FIR.

According to sources, the police station has been ‘abandoned’ by its officials since the LHC upheld the sessions court’s decision to register FIRs against the PML-N leadership, including PM Nawaz Sharif and Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif.

When contacted, SHO Faisal Town police station Sharif Sindhu said he was not at the police station because he was on leave. However, a leave of application for the officer could not be confirmed. “The police is currently seeking legal advice for the case,” Sindhu added.

Earlier, four federal ministers had challenged a sessions court order to register murder cases against 21 federal and provincial authorities including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

PAT’s counsel Mansoorur Rehman Khan Afridi and five other lawyers are waiting for SHO Faisal Town to register the FIR, while talking to The Express Tribune.

PAT’s counsel Mansoorur Rehman Khan Afridi at Faisal Town Police Station. PHOTO: ASAD KHARAL/EXPRESS

The staff of the police station is absent, and the daily register and FIR book are also absent. Only head constable Mohammad Mukhtar on general duty is present and three reserves are due to arrive at the station soon.

Copy of the FIR application that PAT intend to register at the Model Town police station on Wednesday, has been obtained by our correspondent Asad Kharal and can be viewed below: