Pakistan Case Law
1979 SCMR 89

MUHAMMAD NAZIR vs The STATE

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Citation1979 SCMR 89
CourtSupreme Court of Pakistan
Case No.Criminal Review Petition No. 5-R of 1977
Date1978-10-04
Judge(s)Anwarul Haq, C. J., Muhammad Akram Dorab Patel and Muhammad Haleem
Authored byMuhammad Haleem
ResultPetition dismissed
AI Summary — generated from this judgment; read the full text below and verify before relying on it.

This matter arises from a review petition filed by Muhammad Nazir against the order of the Supreme Court of Pakistan refusing to grant special leave to appeal. The core legal questions involve whether discrepancies in evidence warrant a re-appraisal of testimony in review, how injuries sustained by an accused during an incident are considered, and whether a plea of sudden fight and self-defence can be sustained in the absence of corroborative recoveries such as the weapon used. The Court held that contentions relating to the re-appraisal of evidence do not furnish a ground for review, and that the trial evidence conclusively established the petitioner's guilt without material effect from minor discrepancies, while the plea of self-defence and failure to consider injuries were properly addressed and dismissed. The key principle laid down is that a review petition cannot be used to re-evaluate evidence or revisit concurrent factual findings of guilt when the trial record conclusively supports the conviction.

Questions settled in this judgment
  • Can a review petition be maintained on the ground that the evidence was discrepant and ought to be re-appraised?
  • Whether injuries sustained by an accused during an occurrence can form the basis for review when duly considered by the courts below?
  • Does the absence of motive and the occurrence of a sudden fight automatically entitle an accused to the right of self-defence without supporting recoveries?
review petitionre-appraisal of evidencecriminal appealself-defencespecial leave to appeal

ORDER

1. MUHAMMAD HALEEM, J.-No one appeared for the petitioner but we have examined the petition on merits which is against our order dated 29th of March 1977, refusing to grant special leave to appeal to him.

2. The points taken in the petition are that on the same evidence which was discrepant and not accepted against the co-accused, the petitioner was nevertheless convicted; that the injuries on the petitioner which were stated to have been caused by a stick were not given proper consideration; and that in the absence of motive it was a sudden fight and the petitioner was entitled to act in self-defence. These contentions relate to re-appraisal of evidence which cannot furnish ground for review and suffice it to so that the evidence led at the trial conclusively pointed to the guilt of the petitioner which conclusion was not materially affected by the discrepancies in the statements of the witnesses. Even the injuries on the petitions received due consideration by this Court and the same opinion, as held by the Courts below, was expressed as the Danda alleged to have been used was not secured from the spot nor was the petitioner able to make out case of self-defence for the knife alleged to have fallen from the hand of the deceased was not seized. revisions by the competent authorities. Therefore, it is advisable to consult the official sources or legal professionals for the most up-to-date and accurate information.

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