IHC expresses displeasure over FIA for serving notice to petitioner’s counsel

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday expressed displeasure over serving of a show cause notice by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials to the petitioner’s counsel in a case against anti-state contents aired by television channels and uploaded on social media.

IHC's Justice Aamer Farooq, who heard the case, observed that a contempt of court proceedings could be initiated against FIA officials on the issue. How a notice was served to a professional lawyer by the department, he asked.

Petitioner Farukh Nawaz Bhatti in his petition filed through his counsel Raja Rizwan Abbasi, sought the IHC directive for the implementation its orders regarding anti-state contents on TV channels and social media.

The petitioner stated that despite the court orders, the FIA had taken no action against the people involved in crime.

The bench asked FIA's Additional Director Abdul Rauf and Legal Deputy Director Qaiser to produce their implementation report of the court orders on next date of hearing.

Justice Farooq observed that the FIA officials had exceeded their powers while serving a show cause notice to the petitioner’s lawyer.

The court also granted time to Deputy Attorney General Raja Khalid Mehmood to submit reply on behalf of the federation and adjourned the case for 10 days.