KABEER AHMAD and another vs STATE
This matter concerns petitions for pre-arrest bail filed by three accused persons in a case involving murder and physical assault, registered under Sections 302, 147, and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860. The prosecution alleged that the petitioners, motivated by previous enmity, attacked the complainant party, resulting in the death of one individual and injuries to others. The petitioners argued that they were falsely implicated due to mala fides and previous enmity, noting that the medical evidence contradicted the ocular account regarding specific injuries, and that the allegations against certain petitioners involved non-fatal or bailable offenses. The Court observed that the medical report did not corroborate the injury attributed to one petitioner, that the injury attributed to another petitioner was bailable, and that the allegation against the third petitioner was limited to raising a lalkara. Finding that the prosecution may have over-implicated the accused due to existing enmity, the Court held that the petitioners' vicarious liability required further inquiry. Consequently, the Court confirmed the ad interim pre-arrest bail previously granted to the petitioners.
- Can an accused be granted pre-arrest bail when the medical evidence fails to corroborate the specific injury attributed to him?
- Is an allegation of raising a lalkara sufficient to deny pre-arrest bail when the accused was not armed?
- Does the existence of previous enmity between parties warrant further inquiry into the vicarious liability of accused persons under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860?
- Section 302, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 147, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 149, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
ORDER
This order will dispose of Criminal Miscellaneous No, 3758B/2008 filed by Kabeer Ahmed, Muhammad Tariq and Criminal Miscellaneous No, 3759-B/2008 filed by Muhammad Abbas seeking pre-arrest bail in case FIR No, 21/2008 dated 18.02.2008 for the offence under Sections 302/147/149 PPC registered at Police Station Kot Nainan, District Narowal.
2. The said case was got registered by Muhammad Latif son of Muhammad Sharif with regard to the murder of Muhammad Saleem and causing injuries on the person of Atiq and Liaquat at the hands of the petitioners and their co-accused. In nutshell the case of the prosecution is that on 18.08.2008 at about 9 a.m., when the complainant party was returning after casting votes accused persons waylaid them and launched attack. Allegedly petitioner Kabeer raised lalkara, as a result of which Muhammad Irshad co-accused gave blow with the hoe on the head of Muhammad Saleem followed by blow by Muhammad Abbas petitioner who was also carrying hoe on the right side of Muhammad Saleem. Allegedly Muhammad Tariq gave injury to Liaquat on the head with Sota and other co-accused caused injuries to Muhammad Altiq as well.
Motive for the occurrence is stated to be previous enmity between the parties.
2A. Pre-arrest bail is sought on the grounds that petitioners have been involved in this case with mala fide intention because of their previous enmity; medical evidence contradicts the ocular account; the injury attributed to Muhammad Tariq on the person of Liauqat PW falls within the category of Shuja-e-Khafifa which Is a bailable offence and that this petitioner never caused injury to the deceased. With regard to Kabeer Ahmed petitioner it is submitted that at the relevant time he was not carrying any weapon and precise allegation against him is that of raising lalkara. It is submitted that such kind of allegation is normally attributed against innocent person in order to widen the net to implicate as many people as possible as it is apparent from the facts of the case (all the accused are real brothers). Conversely learned counsel for the complainant as well as the DPG vehemently opposes the bail applications.
3. After hearing learned counsel for the parties and perusing the record, I have observed that according to FIR during the occurrence deceased received two injuries; one on the head at the hand of Irshad (co-accused) and the second one on the right side (part of body has not been explained). The injury attributed to Muhammad Irshad (co-accused) stands corroborated from the post-mortem report but said report is silent qua the injury attributed to Muhammad Abbas petitioner.
As far petitioner Muhammad Tariq is concerned, at the relevant time statedly he was armed with Sota and had caused injury to Liaquat PW, the said injury was declared by the medical officer as Shuja-eA Khafifa which is a bailable offence. Admittedly Muhammad Tariq had not caused any injury to the deceased and in the circumstances as to how far he could be held vicariously liable for the offence Section 302 PPC' calls for further inquiry.
With regard Kabeer petitioner, I have observed that at the relevant time he was not carrying any weapon and the precise allegation against him is that of raising lalkara. Whether the said lalkara would be called a proverbial or commending in nature is yet to be determined by the trial Court.
The enmity between the parties is also not denied by counsel for the complainant, I have also observed that all the petitioners are real brothers and I find much force in the arguments of learned counsel for the petitioners that because of the previous enmity possibility that prosecution had thrown its net too wide to implicate as many people as possible, cannot be ruled out. In this view of the matter, these petitions are allowed and ad interim pre-arrest bail already granted to the petitioners, vide orders dated 06.05.2008 stands confirmed against the same surety bonds.