The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has mandated that officials first request a court’s approval in order to arrest a person—who is currently out on bail in one case—on the basis of a second first information report (FIR).
The PHC inspection team member communicated this order to all the district courts via a letter.
The letter states that unless and unless a court of law grants them permission for so, law enforcement officials cannot arrest a person on the basis of a second FIR if they have only been named in one FIR and have previously been granted interim bail.
In response to a petition objecting to the detention of former PTI lawmaker Rangaiz Khan, the court gave this ruling. On August 5, PHC Chief Justice Ibrahim Khan censured the police for re-arresting Rangaiz outside of the courthouse after he had been given bail.
“If the law is not followed, then there will be only rule of the jungle. If I cannot give justice to anyone, then I have no right to sit in this chair.
“I have seen for the first time that an arrest is made despite the court orders. If this happens … everyone, including the advocate general, will go home,” the CJ had said.
