SC reserves verdict on FIR registration

 ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday reserved its verdict over petitions challenging sessions judges’ authority for the registration of first information reports (FIRs). A five-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali heard the case.

During proceedings, amicus curiae Khawaja Haris said the Justice of Peace did not intervene in investigation matters and its jurisdiction was not against the Constitution. The counsel for the petitioner told the court that the registration of an FIR through Justice of Peace was against the Constitution as the registration of FIRs was a responsibility of police and the courts could not intervene in the administrative affairs.

Notably, every sessions judge is called Justice of Peace under 22A and 22B of the Justice of Peace Act. If a police station does not register an FIR despite the passage of one week, the case could be registered on the direction of a sessions judge. If police do not obey the court orders, contempt of court proceedings could be initiated against the police officials concerned.