Plea for FIR registration against dumper truck association’s president rejected

A sessions court has rejected a plea seeking the registration of an FIR against the president of the dumper truck owners’ association over his controversial remarks made after heavy vehicles were set on fire in protest against their involvement in fatal road accidents.

Abdul Qadir, who claimed to be a social worker, filed an application before the sessions court under the Section 22-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking directives for the Bilal Colony SHO to lodge an FIR against the proposed accused, Liaquat Mehsood.

The applicant stated that on April 9, the proposed accused had while talking to the media at Power House Chowrangi said he had boycotted Pakistan and billed the youth of Karachi as terrorists.

He said that Mehsud's remarks caused great mental agony to the citizens of Pakistan. "Due to said act of the proposed accused the honesty, dignity and prestige of Pakistan has been damaged and the proposed accused is liable to be punished according to law," the applicant claimed.

In his order, the additional sessions judge (Central) observed that as per police report, on April 10, miscreants had set fire to two dumper trucks on a main road near Power House Chowrangi, North Karachi and a case was lodged against unknown persons, and that the investigation into the case was under way.

He said that the record revealed that dispute between the parties was of a political or civil nature, therefore, no case for registration of an FIR had been made out. "Hence, the prayer of the petitioner for recording of statement under Section 154 of CrPC is hereby declined," the court ruled.