Law: Criminal Procedure Code (V of 1898)

Section: 22A,561A

Criminal Procedure Code (V of 1898)--- ----Ss. 22-A & 561-A---Powers of Justice of Peace under S. 22-A, Cr.P.C.--Scope---Petition filed under S. 22-A, Cr.P.C, by the petitioner for the registration of criminal case was dismissed by the Ex-Officio Justice of Peace---Validity--Petitioner alleged that proposed accused/respondents showed the compromising photos stored on her smart phone to the applicant and allegedly attempted to blackmail her to work for the proposed accused in a porn racket---During the hearing, the Ex-Officio Justice of Peace called for a report from the concerned SHO---Station House Officer twice, the first time apparently on his own and then again (second time), on the directions of the Ex-Officio Justice of Peace, as recorded in the impugned order, accessed the respondent-proposed accused s smart phone---On both occasions, the record reflected that he found neither photos nor videos of the applicant in the smart phone of the proposed accused/respondent---Respondent-proposed accused also denied the allegations averred by the applicant before the Ex-Officio Justice of Peace---Ex-Officio Justice of Peace had given his reasons for rejecting the application in the impugned order, and an FIR did not need to be lodged in each and every complaint---Private parties knew each other, operating in the same locality--Information brought on record did not inspire confidence as to its bona fide--Nothing had been brought forward by the applicant side or filed any affidavit of witness in support of her claim that the respondent-proposed accused had committed any cognizable offence---No such information was available on record---As such, no defect was found in the impugned order---Petition was dismissed, accordingly. Date of hearing: 7th August, 2025. ORDER JAWAD AKBAR SARWANA, J.---On 07.08.2025, this bench passed a Short Order on even date dismissing this Criminal Misc. Application for reasons to be recorded later. Hereinbelow are the reasons for the said Short Order. The applicant, Mst. Alia Rani, aggrieved by the impugned Order dated 21.07.2025 passed by the Ex-Officio Justice of Peace, Karachi West preferred this Cr. Misc. Appln. against the…