Lahore:
Lahore High Court (LHC) has stated that continued to mention a first information report (FIR) against a person who is acquitted by a court is illegal and violates the person’s dignity and fundamental rights.
In the verdict, Justice Abher Gul Khan gave up that when a person, when a person is acquitted and the order has achieved finality, public authorities cannot continue to connect that person with the case. He added that doing so undermining the acquittal, the presumption of innocence and the basic principles of justice and dignity.
The case was brought by Abdul Rehman Faryad, who sought the removal of a four -reference from his police character certificate despite being acquitted of dragons flying by a court. He argued that the continued mention of the FIR, especially in a document required for overseas travels, effectively portrayed him as a criminal despite the approval of a court.
Although a police character certificate was eventually issued to him on March 13, 2025, it still referred to FIR 1254/2024 registered at Nawan Kot Police Station, Lahore.
After an application to the home secretary was unanswered, the petitioner approached the LHC, who originally instructed the government to respond within 15 days. When this could not happen, he filed a contempt petition.
Authorities later responded by quoting police rules and stating that FIR registries must be preserved for 60 years and stored digitally in accordance with Rule 24.5 of the Police Rules, 1934, and its amendments from 2024. However, the Court found this inadequate.
Justice Yellow noted that although internal registration of administrative purposes is legal, such items must not be used in a way that prejudices a person’s rights.
“When a defendant has been acquitted by a competent court, he must, in the eye of the law, be considered completely exempt from the claims aimed at him,” the judge said.
Justice Yellow ordered the home secretary to issue a new police character certificate to the petitioner and omit all references to FIR and accurately reflects his acquittal and the absence of some criminal responsibility.
