BASHIR AHMAD vs THE STATE
The petitioner sought post-arrest bail in case F.I.R. No.251 of 2004 registered under sections 324/148/149 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 at Police Station Ghaziabad District, Sahiwal. The core legal question was whether the petitioner was entitled to post-arrest bail given that he was declared innocent during the police investigation, no weapon of offense was recovered from him as alleged in the F.I.R., and his co-accused similarly situated had already been granted bail. The Lahore High Court held that the petitioner made out a case for further inquiry under Section 497 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898. The Court reasoned that although police findings of innocence are not binding ipso facto, they are relevant at the bail stage, particularly when supported by the absence of overt acts and recovery discrepancies. Consequently, the petition was allowed and the petitioner was admitted to bail.
- Whether the finding of innocence by the police during an investigation is relevant for the disposal of a bail petition?
- Does a case where no overt act is attributed to the accused and he is declared innocent by the police fall within the scope of further inquiry under Section 497 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898?
- Is an accused entitled to post-arrest bail when similarly situated co-accused have already been granted bail?
- Section 324, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 148, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 149, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 337-F(vi), Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 497, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
ORDER
' Petitioner has sought post-arrest bail in case F.I.R. No.251 of 2004 dated 19-8-2004 registered under sections 324/148/149, P.P.C. At Police Station Ghaziabad District, Sahiwal at the complaint of Muhammad Abbas.
2. Allegation against the present petitioner as narrated in the F.I.R. Is that he while armed with Kassi caused injuries to Iftikhar Ahmed injured.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner has been declared innocent during the investigation for causing injury to Iftikhar Ahmad P.W. And recovery of alleged Kassi has not been effected from the petitioner rather the police effected recovery of Sota produced by one Nazir Ahmad. That during investigation Iftikhar Ahmad injured P.W. Was found armed at the time of occurrence with Kassi, which was snatched by Arshad accused as there was a dispute between the parties over the watering of buffaloes in the water course. That the petitioner according to the finding of investigation was armed with Sota and was present at the spot along with Akhtar his co- accused but no overt act was committed by the petitioner. That provisions of section 324 are not attracted as per report of Medical Officer there was dislocation of right wrist joint and also a damage of muscles which attracted the provisions of section 337-F(vi), P.P.C. And the delay in lodging the F.I.R. Has not been explained. Further submits that petitioner's case is of further inquiry and falls within the purview of section 497, Cr.P.C. That although the findings of investigation is not binding upon the Court ipso facto yet the opinion of Investigating Officer is relevant for the disposal of the bail petitions and has relied on "Zafar Iqbal v. The State" (2002 M LD 454), "Dr. Muhammad Aslam v. The State" (1993 SCM R 2288), Muhammad Ilyas v. Ijaz Ahmad Butt and another" (1992 SCM R 1857) and "Manzoor and others v. The State" (PLD 1972 SC 81).
4. On the other hand learned State Counsel assisted by learned counsel for the complainant has vehemently opposed the bail petition alleging that an incised wound was attributed to the petitioner, who has been nominated in the F.I.R. And the injured has been remained in serious condition in the hospital and challan has been submitted in the Court of competent jurisdiction since 1-9-2004. Further submits that the delay in lodging the F.I.R. Has been explained and case of petitioner falls in the prohibitory clause of section 497, Cr.P.C.
5. I have heard the learned counsel for the parties and perused the record. The petitioner has been declared innocent during investigation and the Kassi as alleged in the F.I.R. Has not been recovered rather Sota has been recovered from the petitioner. According to the investigation Kassi blow has been attributed to Arshad co-accused. Akhtar co-accused was allegedly armed with Sota and he has been bailed out in this case. According to the investigation, although the petitioner was present at the spot yet, he had not committed any overt act and he was found innocent by the police. Although this Court is not bound to the ipsi dixit of police yet the same is relevant at bail stage especially when finding is with regard to the innocence of the petitioner. All the above- mentioned acts make case of the petitioner that of further enquiry.
6. In this view of the matter, the petitioner is entitled to be admitted on bail in the sum of Rs.50,000 with two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of learned trial Court.