Registration of FIRs against power thieves: SC judge refers petitions to CJP for larger bench

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court Judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah Tuesday referred to the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa for constitution of a larger bench on the petitions seeking registration of FIRs against the people involved in power theft.

A three-member bench of the apex court — headed by Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah — heard the petitions filed by the Federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government against the order of a sessions judge quashing FIRs against the people involved in power theft.

Additional Attorney General (AAG) told the court that an amendment had been made to the Pakistan Penal Code, inserting a clause pertaining to the filing of a complaint with the power companies against the people involved in power theft.

He further submitted that the Lahore High Court (LHC) had held that apart from filing a complaint with the power companies against the power stealers, FIRs could also be lodged against such people.

Additional Advocate General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) told the court that the Supreme Court had also held that apart from filing complaints, FIRs could also be lodged against the power stealers.

He, however, informed the court that the people at large in KP had challenged the registration of FIRs against the power thieves adding that the sessions judge while abolishing the FIRs had ruled for filing complaints with the power companies concerned.

At this, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah observed that it would be appropriate that a larger bench should hear this case so that the matter could be resolved once and for all.

Later, the bench referred the instant matter to the chief Justice of Pakistan for constitution of a larger bench.