The Islamabad High Court has issued a written ruling addressing the petitions challenging the registration of multiple cases against the late journalist Arshad Sharif and other journalists. The court declared that lodging multiple FIRs against Arshad Sharif for a single allegation is legally untenable, emphasizing that only one FIR should have been considered valid for investigating the accusations against him.
The 36-page ruling, written by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, responded to pending petitions dating back to May 2022. The court remarked that Sharif faced undue harassment by the authorities, a situation that was neither justified under the law nor fair to his family, who have suffered significant harm that cannot be compensated.
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The judgment also referenced the Protection of Journalists Act, enacted on December 1, 2021, which aims to safeguard journalists from harassment. Despite the existence of this Act, the court acknowledged that journalists, including Sharif, continue to face unjust treatment.
The court suggested that Sharif’s family could seek recourse through the commission established under the Protection of Journalists Act, which is legally obligated to investigate the harassment faced by journalists and address any threats to their lives. This commission is also responsible for handling complaints related to legal cases against journalists.
Arshad Sharif, who left Pakistan in 2022 due to threats to his life, was tragically shot and killed by local police in Kenya on October 23, 2022, under controversial circumstances. His family has alleged that his death was a premeditated assassination involving senior Pakistani officials.
