ISLAMABAD: Faisal Shahkar, the Punjab inspector general, has 24 hours to register the first information report of the Wazirabad incident—in which an attempt was made on PTI chief Imran Khan’s life—or else the Supreme Court of Pakistan would take suo motu notice.

This is what Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, leading a five-member bench, said while presiding over contempt of court proceedings against Imran on Monday and ordered the Punjab IG to register the FIR.

The development comes a day after Punjab IG Faisal Shahkar requested the federal government to relieve him of his duties because of “personal reasons”.

Imran was attacked on November 3 and since then the deadlock has persisted over the registration of the FIR. He has named Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and a senior military officer as those responsible for the assassination bid on him in Wazirabad.

The former premier had also expressed concerns over the delay in the registration of FIR during his press conference on Sunday. “If I have been unable to get an FIR registered three days after an assassination attempt, there is virtually no hope for an ordinary man to get justice. I am certain that the three people I mentioned hatched a conspiracy to kill me.”

The apex court summoned the IG Punjab and the advocate general for Punjab during the hearing of the case on Monday. Imran’s lawyer Salman Akram Raja had appeared in front of the court.

“A very sad incident happened on Thursday, has a case of the incident been registered,” the CJP asked Imran’s lawyer.

Raja said that he was not much aware of the FIR registration, adding that effort was made in this regard. “Maybe it’s not registered yet.”

The CJP said the non-registration of FIR meant that police investigations have so far not started yet. “If the police have not started an investigation, then it is possible that evidence would have been erased from the scene. Thus, the evidence in the case will be controversial and later inadmissible in court.”

Shahkar appeared in front of the court when the CJP asked who has come to the court on behalf of the Punjab police.

Referring to the Punjab IG, CJP Bandial said that they have heard about his achievements on the international level. He ordered Shahkar to inform the court after the registration of the FIR.

“You may continue the work. If someone interferes, then we will interfere.”

On the top court’s 24-hour ultimatum, Shahkar said: “The Punjab government has prohibited us from registering the FIR.”

CJP Bandial said that the police itself could register the case under the criminal justice system. “More than 90 hours have passed and still, the FIR has not been registered. For now, [we are] not taking suo motu notice. If FIR is not registered in 24 hours, then [we] will take suo motu.”