The Islamabad High Court has released a comprehensive 41-page decision regarding petitions filed against Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, leader of the Awami Muslim League, concerning cases in Karachi’s Kemari and other incidents.
Justice Tariq Mahmood Jehangiri of the Islamabad High Court ruled to dismiss multiple cases registered based on the same allegations. He specified that authorities should not register an FIR for the same incident outside the jurisdiction of the relevant police station.
The court’s decision emphasized that the law prohibits prosecuting an individual multiple times for the same crime, underscoring the courts’ constitutional duty to safeguard citizens’ rights. The court asserted its jurisdiction since the Sheikh Rashid incident occurred at the Polyclinic in Islamabad. Consequently, it dismissed the case initially registered at the Mochko Police Station in Kemari, Karachi.
The ruling also criticized political parties for initiating non-serious legal actions against political opponents immediately after coming to power, leading to multiple cases filed on identical charges across various regions. Such actions, the court noted, contravene established legal precedents set by the Supreme Court, undermining the principles of law and democracy. The court advised careful consideration before taking such steps.
The decision further noted that police and judicial advisors had confirmed that filing a case concerning an incident in Islamabad in other provinces was inappropriate. As a result, police in Lahore, Lasbela, and Peshawar have cancelled similar cases, prompting petitioners to withdraw their challenges.
Specifically, authorities charged Sheikh Rashid in Kemari for making derogatory remarks about Bilawal Bhutto, which he made in Islamabad. Consequently, the FIR stated that Karachi did not warrant a case. A police officer mentioned that the matter involved Bilawal Bhutto, so he could not provide an official statement.
