KARACHI: A constitutional bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday restrained police from registering an FIR against Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) leader Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi and his family. The bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Karim Khan Agha, issued the directive while hearing a contempt petition filed by Mr Jatoi through his counsel against police officials. At the outset of the hearing, the counsel for the petitioner informed the SHC that the police had registered an FIR against his client despite an earlier court order barring such an action. In response, the state prosecutor maintained that the FIR was registered in accordance with law, as the alleged incident had indeed occurred. During the proceedings, DIG Shaheed Benazirabad and SSP Naushahro Feroze, among other officials appeared before the court. After hearing arguments from both sides, the court directed the police officials to submit an apology. Complying with the directive, the police officials tendered an “unconditional apology” and placed themselves at the mercy of the court. While accepting their apology, the court noted: “Under these circumstances, the contempt application against them is vacated. They may continue to investigate the FIR which they have lodged without permission of this court.” However, the court emphasised that the inquiry must be conducted fairly and directed DIG Pervaiz Ahmed Chandio and SSP Sanghar Malik to assign the investigation to honest officers. The court also warned the alleged contemnors in its order: “In the future, this court might not take such a lenient approach to their conduct.” Furthermore, it directed the police officials in Naushahro Feroze district to refrain from registering any further FIRs against the petitioner without prior permission from the court. The court also noted that the responsibility would be on their shoulders to ensure that the SHOs under their control do not register such FIRs before approaching the SHC.