KARACHI, Oct 19: A sessions court on Wednesday returned an application seeking the registration of a case against former home minister Dr Zulfikar Mirza under the blasphemy law over a jurisdiction matter.

Sindh Industries Minister Rauf Siddiqui of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement had moved an application in the court through his lawyer, Amir Mansoob Quershi, under Section 22-A of the criminal procedure code.

During the last hearing, the court had summoned the SHO of the Gulberg police station, who appeared before Additional District and Sessions Judge (central) Mohammad Azeem on Wednesday and informed the court that he could not register the case since the alleged incident took place within the remit of the Chakiwara police station.

While returning the plea to the applicant, the court said it had no jurisdiction to hear the application as the alleged incident took place in district south.

The MQM leader alleged in the application that Dr Mirza had used derogatory remarks about Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during his press conference on Oct 9.

He further submitted that he approached the Gulberg police station to lodge a case against Dr Mirza, but the police said that they would not entertain the plea without the permission of their high-ups.

Meanwhile, the applicant’s lawyer told Dawn that he had submitted an application in a sessions court (south), which put the Chakiwara SHO on notice for Thursday.