Qualms over First Instance Report for Imran Khan’s assassination attempt escalate to the Supreme Court

Charlotte Parker

Pakistan and Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence 

Following the attack on PTI, wounding former Prime Minister Imran Khan, current PTI leader, as well as fourteen others on the 3rd of November 2022 there has been disagreement and some controversy surrounding the registration of the attack. On the 5th of November 2022 it was reported that there had been a deadlock in the matter of the submission of the First Instance Report (FIR). Reports suggested the FIR hadn’t been filed as Imran Khan had included the name of a senior army officer, the Prime Minister and Interior Minister in his complaint, refusing to withdraw them. Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi held it was against the logic of nominating the senior army official in the case. PTI reaffirmed its initial decision of including these names in its FIR, and Khan has been outspoken against government and military officials since the attack.

As a result, the FIR has yet to be filed and Khan has continued his efforts to achieve its filing. Khan has reached out to Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi in a public letter to identify the perpetrators of the attack on PTI and to ensure they are held accountable for their actions. Khan pleaded for the President to act to stop the abuse of power affecting citizens’ rights in Pakistan. The matter has now escalated, with the Supreme Court intervening. At a hearing for a contempt plea against Khan, the Court questioned Punjab’s Inspector General as to the explanation for not registering the FIR and requested a specific point when registration would be finalised. The Court’s bench directed the Punjab Inspector General to probe the matter and also warned they would take suo motu notice if the FIR continued without registration, for which the Inspector General would be answerable for. This notice means the Supreme Court would take the action to register the FIR on their own account, regardless of the support or intention of the Punjab authorities which have previously expressed their discontent with the situation. Given the time already elapsed since the attack, and the Supreme Court’s 24-hour deadline for the Inspector General, this is likely to be resolved promptly.

Sources and further reading:

1. Abdullah Momand. Imran calls on President Alvi to define ‘clear operational lines’ for ISPR. (2022, November 7). Dawn.com. Retrieved 8 November 2022 from https://www.dawn.com/news/1719538/imran-calls-on-president-alvi-to-define-clear-operational-lines-for-ispr 
2. Asif Chaudhry. Deadlock over FIR lands Imran shooting probe in legal quagmire. (2022, November 5). Dawn.com. Retrieved 8 November 2022 from https://www.dawn.com/news/1719078 
3. Haseeb Bhatti. SC warns of suo motu notice if FIR of attack on Imran not registered in 24 hours. (2022, November 7). Dawn.com. Retrieved 8 November 2022 from https://www.dawn.com/news/1719535/sc-warns-of-suo-motu-notice-if-fir-of-attack-on-imran-not-registered-in-24-hours 

Mansoor Malik. Attempt on Imran Khan’s life shocks nation. (2022, November 4). Dawn.com. Retrieved 8 November 2022 from https://www.dawn.com/news/1718769/attempt-on-imran-khans-life-shocks-nation