Islamabad: (RightNow) The Federal Constitutional Court has ruled that civil and criminal proceedings cannot run concurrently on the same matter. The court stated that conflicting decisions could jeopardize justice.

The constitutional court clarified that if a property dispute is pending in a civil court, the criminal court should await its decision. The civil court will determine the authenticity of disputed documents.

According to the court, only after the civil court’s decision can criminal proceedings against the applicants commence. If civil and criminal cases are related, there is room to halt criminal proceedings.

The court further stated that the decision to halt criminal proceedings should consider relevant circumstances and justice requirements. The legal status of disputed documents falls under the civil court’s jurisdiction.

It is noteworthy that the court issued this decision in the case of a former District Education Officer in Bannu. Criminal proceedings were initiated over irregularities in teacher recruitments.