KARACHI, May 21: The Karachi Bar Association (KBA) is set to file a petition in the Sindh High Court against the SHO of the City Courts police station for not taking action on the FIR registered against the Sindh government and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

KBA General-Secretary Naeem Qureshi told Dawn on Monday that the incidents mentioned in the FIR -- firing on a lawyers’ procession, torching of the furniture in the women lawyers’ common room, kidnapping of senior lawyers and hurling of threats at lawyers -- occurred within the jurisdiction of the City Courts police station. He said the FIR of these incidents was based on facts.

He said the officials of the police station concerned were bound by duty to process the FIR, adding that by declaring the FIR null and void the police had committed contempt of court as the registration of the FIR was ordered by a court.

Mr Qureshi accused the SHO of acting like a political activist and not fulfilling his professional duties. “The SHO is not authorised to stop action on the FIR prior to the recording of witnesses’ statements.’’

An official posted at the City Courts police station, however, insisted that police could stay any FIR under Section 157-B if it was false and based on mala fide intentions.