Court rejects Gohar’s FIR plea against PM

A district and sessions court in Islamabad has dismissed a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, who had sought the registration of a criminal case against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and several other senior government officials over the events of the November 26 protest.

The court issued a detailed 17-page written judgment, outlining the reasons for rejecting the application. The verdict was authored by Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka, who concluded that the petitioner had failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify the registration of a first information report (FIR).

According to the judgment, Barrister Gohar was given multiple opportunities to appear before the court and record his statement as an eyewitness. However, the court noted that he did not record his testimony despite repeated chances.

The ruling further stated that the petitioner neither presented eyewitnesses nor submitted legally admissible evidence in support of his allegations. The court observed that the application relied mainly on claims without providing documentary or forensic material required to initiate criminal proceedings.

The petition alleged that 12 people lost their lives and more than 38 PTI supporters were injured during the November 26 protest. However, the court noted that no post-mortem reports, death certificates, medical records, digital videos, photographs or other primary evidence were produced to verify the claims.

The judgment emphasized that criminal action cannot be initiated against senior public officeholders solely on the basis of verbal allegations. It said there must be credible and legally admissible evidence before the court can direct the registration of an FIR against high-ranking officials.

Among those named in the petition were Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Information Minister Atta Tarar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Islamabad Inspector General of Police Ali Nasir, DIG Operations Ali Raza, SSP Operations Zeeshan Haider and other officials.

The court also observed that if the petitioner believed that government institutions were not cooperating in the investigation, he had legal options available under Pakistani law. These included approaching the courts for further investigative measures, including exhumation where legally justified. The judgment noted that no such legal remedies were pursued.