MUHAMMAD MANSHA vs THE STATE

This matter concerns a petition for leave to appeal against a criminal conviction. The core legal question addressed by the Court is whether the testimony of prosecution witnesses is credible, specifically regarding the identification of the accused who were allegedly firing from the rooftops of various houses. The petitioner contended that such identification was impossible under the circumstances and that the witnesses were motivated by previous enmity. Upon consideration, the Supreme Court held that these contentions warranted a detailed examination of the trial record. Consequently, the Court granted leave to appeal to conduct a thorough reappraisal of the evidence. The key principle laid down is that where the identification of an accused is challenged based on physical impossibility—such as firing from rooftops—and the presence of previous enmity, the appellate court must carefully scrutinize the credibility of the witnesses and the overall circumstances of the case to ensure a safe administration of criminal justice.