Peshawar:
The Superior Court of Peshawar (PHC) has issued notices to the Federal Government and other relevant authorities, seeking an answer regarding the registration of a FIR against a local lawyer under the Law of Electronic Crimes of Pakistan (Peca).
A bank of two members comprising Judge Syed Arshad Ali and Judge Abdul Fayyaz heard the case. During the procedure, Judge Syed Arshad Ali questioned the legal basis of the FIR, commenting: “How can the Police register a case under the law sins when it falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)? How can a shoe present such a case?”
The petitioner, lawyer Roman Shah appeared before the court. Judge Arshad Ali asked him why the FIR had been registered. Shah replied that he did not know the specific accusations and only knew that he had been filed under Peca.
Judge Abdul Fayyaz said: “The PCA law is within the Domain of the FIA. How did the FIR registered the FIR?” Judge Arshad Ali also added: “If the matter is within the jurisdiction of the FIA, then the sho has no authority to register that case.”
The petitioner informed the court that he had already secured an interim bond. The assistant attorney general told The Bench that the FIR was based on a publication on social networks made of the petitioner account, allegedly addressed to a senior official of a security agency.
Judge Arshad Ali questioned the actions of the petitioner, asking: “Why do you share that content that creates problems?” In response, lawyer Roman Shah denied the property ownership, stating: “This is not my account. Today, false accounts are created using other people’s photos. I have no knowledge of this publication.”
After the hearing, the Court issued notices to the federal government and other respondents, ordering them to present their answers.
