KARACHI: A sessions court has dismissed an application filed by the president of Insaf Lawyers Forum (ILF), seeking direction to record statements and registration of FIRs against former interior minister Rana Sanaullah.

Advocate Zahooruddin Mehsud had submitted the application under Sections 22-A and 22-B of the criminal procedure code (CrPC), seeking instructions for the respondents, SSP-South and SHO of the Preedy police station, to initiate a case against Rana Sana for allegedly “expressing an intention to murder former prime minister Imran Khan”.

After considering the arguments presented, the additional district and sessions judge (South) dismissed the the application. The grounds for dismissal included the assertion that the alleged incident did not occur in the jurisdiction of that court. Furthermore, it was noted that the applicant lacked a direct relationship with the affected person.

During the proceedings, the SHO of the Preedy police station submitted a report before the court, alleging that they had requested the applicant to visit the station to record his statement. However, according to the report, the applicant failed to comply with the request and did not approach the police station.

The applicant submitted before the court that they had viewed a video circulating on social media wherein the former minister expressed an intention to harm their leader.

They submitted that Rana Sana had strong connections with jail authorities, leading to serious concerns regarding the health of the party founder who was currently detained in Adiyala Jail in Rawalpindi.

The applicant pleaded to the court to “initiate legal proceedings against the nominated person, as the respondent had deliberately failed to take the necessary legal action against the proposed accused”.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2024