GUL MUHAMMAD and another vs MUHAMMAD AFZAL and others

This matter concerns two separate criminal appeals, Criminal Appeal No. 449 of 2000 and Criminal Appeal No. 450 of 2000, adjudicated by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. In the first appeal, the appellant's legal counsel filed an application seeking withdrawal from the case, citing the appellant's lack of interest and the inability of counsel to establish contact with the appellant despite diligent efforts. Consequently, the Court dismissed the appeal due to non-prosecution. Regarding the second appeal, the Court was informed that the appellant, Muhammad Afzal, had already completed the entirety of his sentence. Given that the underlying purpose of the appeal had been rendered moot by the completion of the sentence, the Court dismissed the appeal as infructuous. These orders reflect the Court's procedural handling of criminal appeals where the appellant is either unavailable or the relief sought has been overtaken by events, specifically the completion of the custodial sentence, thereby rendering the appellate proceedings unnecessary and moot.