ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday disposed of a petition filed by Irfan Siddiqui, former adviser to then prime minister Nawaz Sharif, seeking to quash the first information report (FIR) registered against him over the alleged violation of the tenancy law.

Justice Aamir Farooq of the IHC, while disposing of the petition, observed that the district administration of the federal capital had already addressed the grievances of Mr Siddiqui and absolved him of the case.

In July, Mr Siddiqui was arrested by the Ramna police during a raid on his residence for not sharing his tenant’s details with the police station which is a requirement under the tenancy law. He was produced before a magistrate who sent him to Adiala jail on a 14-day judicial remand at the request of police, even though Mr Siddiqui told the magistrate that the house in question was owned by his son, Imran Khawar Siddiqui. The same magistrate granted him bail the next day.

The court, however, asked Mr Siddiqui to file a separate petition if he believed he had become a victim of highhandedness of the state functionaries.

In August, Mr Siddiqui challenged the FIR as well as the proceedings against him pending before an assistant commissioner. The AC order that absolved Mr Siddiqui was submitted to the court by the police on Friday.

In the order, the AC had cleared Mr Siddiqui and said that perusal of the documents submitted by the police revealed that the house indeed belonged to his son, Imran Siddiqui. The order further said that the lease agreement was between Imran Siddiqui and his tenant Jawed Iqbal.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2019