ISLAMABAD The Islamabad High Court (IHC) rendered a detailed ruling on Sheikh Rashid Ahmed’s request to have several cases against him dismissed nationwide due to his alleged “indecent” remarks about Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari dismissed. The IHC ruled that each incident could only have one first information report (FIR) filed, and that too with the appropriate police station.
In a 41-page full ruling released on Saturday, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri emphasized that it is a well-established legal principle that an individual cannot be charged for the same offense more than once.
The lawsuit against the Awami Muslim League (AML) chief, who was accused of using derogatory language against the PPP chief in February of last year, was dismissed by the IHC on June 25.
According to the ruling, the high court expressed sadness over the reality that political parties frequently file numerous cases for the same offense across the nation while they are in power, alleging false charges against their opponents.
It further stated that it was a flagrant breach of the laws already in place in the country for political opponents to be subjected to harassment and torture.
The comprehensive ruling further said that no additional FIR could be filed for a single incidence, with the exception of the pertinent police station.
