The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered that a First Information Report of the attempted murder of PTI Chairman Imran Khan be filed within 24 hours. The court has also issued a notice that it will take suo motu action if the order is not followed.
On Monday, while the case was being heard for contempt of court against the former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan, Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial made these comments. Through a video link, Punjab IG police Faisal Shahkar appeared before the supreme court while he was in the SC Lahore Registry.
Justice Umar Ata Bandial, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, directed the Punjab IG police to let the court know how long it will take to file a FIR regarding the gun attack on the PTI leader.
“Evidence is being lost if the police keep delaying the registration of the FIR. The court will take suo motu notice if the case is not filed within 24 hours,” said CJP Bandial.
The Punjab IG was informed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan that he will be the respondent in the suo motu notice.
The IG was given permission by the chief judge to look into the situation, gather information, and conduct forensic analysis.
Addressing the IG police, the CJP said: “An attempt was made to assassinate a national leader. You should understand the gravity of the matter. Ninety hours have elapsed, but no case has been registered as yet,” the chief justice expressed his exasperation over the delay.
He remarked how an investigation could be conducted without registration of the case. In case of no FIR, the evidence could be changed, he observed.
The CJP went on to remark that there should be a solid reason for not registering the case. He directed the IG to act according to the law as the court was with him.
“You should ask your officers to investigate the case. As long as you are on this post, no one will interfere with your work. If someone tries to interfere in your work, then the court will interfere in his work,” the CJP told the IG asking him to tell the court how long it would take to register the case.
The Punjab IG told the court that he was asked by the provincial government to not register the case.
The top Punjab cop told the court that the chief minister had reservations over the registration of the case.
The CJP remarked that the chief minister’s reservations could not deter police from registering an FIR. He directed the IG police to use his authority and take legal action. “Under the criminal justice system, police can register an FIR on its own,” CJP Bandial observed.
The IG told the court that there was another option that the police could register the case on the complaint of the family of the person who died during the firing incident.
The chief justice told off the IG saying the court had no concern with the police’s options except that the police must investigate the case.
During the hearing, Imran Khan’s lawyer Salman Akram Raja told the court that he held a short meeting with the PTI chief. He said Imran needed more time to submit his detailed reply in the contempt case.
On this, the CJP remarked a tragic incident happened on Thursday. He gave one week time to Imran for submission of his reply and adjourned the hearing.
