IRFAN IQBAL vs THE STATE
This matter concerns two petitions for post-arrest bail filed by the petitioners in connection with F.I.R. No. 217/2005, registered under Sections 16 and 10 of the Offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hadood) Ordinance, 1979. The core legal question was whether the petitioners were entitled to bail given the allegations of abduction and the status of the investigation. The prosecution alleged that the petitioners facilitated the elopement of the complainant's wife. The petitioners argued that the case was one of elopement rather than abduction, that they had been declared innocent by the police, and that their continued incarceration served no purpose as the alleged abductee remained unrecovered. The Court held that, prima facie, the evidence suggested the complainant's wife left her house of her own accord, negating the element of abduction at this stage. Furthermore, the Court reasoned that keeping the petitioners in custody would not assist in the recovery of the alleged abductee. Consequently, the Court granted post-arrest bail to the petitioners, establishing the principle that bail may be granted when the prosecution's case lacks prima facie evidence of abduction and continued detention serves no investigative purpose.
- Does the absence of prima facie evidence of abduction in an F.I.R. justify the grant of post-arrest bail?
- Should bail be denied solely because an alleged abductee has not yet been recovered by the police?
- Does the fact that the police declared the accused innocent during the investigation constitute a ground for granting bail?
- Section 10, Offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hadood) Ordinance 1979
- Section 16, Offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hadood) Ordinance 1979
ORDER
' Through this single order I propose to dispose of Cr1. Misc. No-2751-B of 2005 and Cr1. Misc. No- 2896-B of 2005 as both the petitions arise out of the same F.I.R.
2. Petitioners in both the cases seek Post-Arrest,. Bail in case F.I.R. No,217/2005 dated 3-7-2005 under sections 16/10 of the Offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hadood) Ordinance VII of 1979 registered at Police Station Mitroo District Vehari.
3. Brief facts as narrated in the F.I.R. Are that Mst. Fiaz Bibi accused was on visiting terms with the complainant Muhammad Luqman. During this time, she was instrumental in developing illicit relations between the wife of the complainant Mst. Ansar Bibi and Irfan Iqbal petitioner. On 26-6- 2005 the said accused Mst. Fiaz Bibi visited the house of the complainant during his absence and arranged a meeting of Mst. Ansar Bibi with Irfan Iqbal. At 11-00 P.M, on the same date, a car stopped at the door of the complainant. On hearing the noise of the car P.Ws. Tariq and Khuda Bakhsh, who were sleeping on the roof of their houses they saw Mst. Ansar Bibi sitting in the car wherein Irfan Iqbal, Fiaz Bibi, Muhammad Javaid and Inayat were already Present.
4. It is contended by the learned counsel for the petitioners that there is a delay of seven days in the registration of the case; that according to the allegations levelled in the F.I.R. The case is not one of abduction rather is one of elopement; that the petitioners were declared innocent by the Investigating Officer, which was verified by the D.S.P. However, the learned Magistrate did not agree with the discharge report; that the petitioners are behind the bar since 14-7-2005; that the person of the petitioners is no more required by the police for any further investigation.
5. On the other hand, learned counsel for the State assisted by the learned counsel for the complainant has opposed these applications. However, the state of investigation as alleged by the learned counsel for the petitioner is not denied. It is next argued that the abductee has not yet been recovered.
6. I have considered the arguments of the learned counsel for the parties.
7. Bare perusal of the F.I.R. Indicates that prima facie, it appears that Mst. Ansar Bibi had left, her house on her own accord, therefore, it cannot be said at this stage that she was abducted by the petitioners. The reasons of her leaving the house are also not available on record, Keeping the petitioners behind the bars would not advance the case of the complainant for the recovery of alleged abductee because definitely she is not in the custody of present petitioners, who are in jail.
Under these circumstances, both these applications are allowed. The petitioners are admitted to, bail in the sum of Rs,1,00,000 (Rupees One Lac only) each with two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of learned trial Court/Illaqa Magistrate.