SHERAZ and anothers vs The STATE and anothers
This matter concerns a petition for post-arrest bail filed by two accused individuals, Sheraz and Ayaz, charged under sections 302, 324, 114, and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860, alongside a connected application for the cancellation of bail previously granted to a co-accused, Jehanzeb. The core legal questions were whether the petitioners were entitled to post-arrest bail given the allegations of direct firing and whether the bail granted to the co-accused should be cancelled. The Court held that the petitioners were not entitled to bail, as they were directly charged in a promptly lodged F.I.R. with specific roles in the fatal shooting, supported by medico-legal evidence and witness accounts, establishing reasonable grounds to believe they committed the offence. Conversely, the Court refused to cancel the bail of the co-accused, reasoning that he was only charged with instigation (Lalkara), and there was no evidence of misuse of bail or tampering with evidence. The Court affirmed that bail cancellation requires extraordinary circumstances and is distinct from the considerations for granting bail.
- Are accused persons directly charged with specific roles of firing in a promptly lodged F.I.R. entitled to post-arrest bail?
- What are the legal requirements for the cancellation of bail once it has been granted by a competent court?
- Does the existence of a cross-case (F.I.R.) automatically entitle an accused to the concession of bail?
- Section 302, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 324, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 114, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 34, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
' MUHAMMAD DAUD KHAN, J.--- This single order shall also dispose of Date of hearing: 23rd December, connected bail cancellation application bearing Criminal Miscellaneous Bail C.A. No,67- M of 2013, as the same arises from one and the same F.I.R.
2. Accused/petitioners Sheraz and Ayaz, involved in case F.I.R. No,283 dated 1-10-2013, Police Station Dargai, District Malakand, registered under sections 302/ 324/114/34, P.P.C., having failed to secure relief of bail from the learned lower Courts, approached this Court for the concession of post-arrest bail.
3. As per F.I.R., on 1-10-2013 at 07:50 hours, complainant Javed Khan son of Abdullah Shah made report to police in the Casualty Ward of Dargai Hospital to the effect that on the day of occurrence, he along with his brothers Tariq and Marvez were on their way to their land known as Srro Moto Dobandai for cutting of maize crop; at about 07:30 hours when they reached near the house of accused Sheraz, there accused Sheraz, Ayaz sons of Inayatullah Khan, armed with Kalashnikovs and Jehanzeb, empty-handed were standing and started altercation with the complainant party; that at the instigation of accused Jehanzeb, accused Sheraz and Ayaz started firing; as a result of firing of accused Sheraz, brother of complainant Marvez was hit while from the firing of accused Ayaz, other brother Tariq was hit and both got seriously injured; that due to the firing a passerby Islam Gul son of Ziarat Gul also sustained injuries. Both the injured brothers of complainant succumbed to their injuries on the way while shifting to Dargai Hospital. The motive for the occurrence is stated to be altercation, a day prior to the occurrence. The occurrence is stated to have been witnessed by Islam Gul and uncles of the complainant. On this report, case vide F.I.R.
Referred to above was registered against the accused/ petitioner.
4. Learned counsel for the accused/petitioners contended that the accused/petitioner are innocent and have falsely been charged; that there is no independent, impartial and trustworthy evidence to support the allegations of prosecution/complainant; that nothing incriminating has been recovered from their possessiod or pointation of the accused/ petitioners; that the report has been lodged after consultation and deliberation. He also argued that regarding the same occurrence another case vide F.I.R. - No, 284 of the even date has been registered against the complainant party and it cannot be determined without recording prosecution evidence that who was aggressor and who was aggressed upon, therefore, on this score the accused/petitioners are entitled to the concession of bail.
5. On the contrary, learned State counsel assisted by learned counsel for the complainant, argued that accused/ petitioners have been directly charged in a promptly lodged F.I.R. With specific role of firing; that the Medico-legal Report supports the version of prosecution, therefore, accused/petitioners are not entitled for grant of bail. Learned counsel also argued in support of bail cancellation application and opposed the bail granting order vide which co-accused Jehanzeb has been released on bail and prayed that keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case, he was not entitled to concession of bail which legally requires to be recalled.
6. Arguments heard and record perused.
7. It is obvious from perusal of record that accused/petitioners have been directly charged in the F.I.R. With specific role of firing at the complainant party as result of which two brothers have lost their lives, while complainant and a passerby sustained injuries on their person. There is no delay in lodging of the report. The occurrence has been witnessed by eye-witnesses. Moreover, the story of prosecution is further supported by recoveries effected by the Investigating Officer from the place of occurrence and medico-legal evidence. On tentative assessment of the material available on the file, reasonable grounds do exist to believe that accused/petitioners are linked with the .
Commission of offence, therefore, they are not entitled to the concession, of bail, which is refused.
8. As far as bail granted to co-accused is concerned, he is only charged for `Lalkara', and at present there is nothing on record to this effect in support thereof. Moreover, there is nothing on the record to suggest that the accused/respondent has ever misused the concession of bail or have tampered with the evidence during investigation. The order impugned herein, has been passed strictly in accordance with law and the jurisdiction exercised by the learned lower Court is within its competence. The bail granting order is neither perverse, arbitrary or whimsical and has been passed on sound reasons. Furthermore, considerations for cancellation of bail are altogether different from those required for grant of bail. Once an accused is admitted to bail by a competent Court, then extraordinary circumstances are required to interfere with the said order.
' Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case, the bail petition is hereby dismissed, while the connected application for cancellation of bail, being without force, is also dismissed.