Muhammad Farooq vs The State, etc
This petition for post-arrest bail arose from a case registered under Sections 302, 109, and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860, where the petitioner was not nominated in the initial First Information Report (FIR) and no physical descriptions of the unknown assailants were provided. The prosecution relied on an identification parade conducted twenty-one months and fourteen days after the incident, and eight days after the petitioner's arrest. The High Court observed that the prosecution witnesses were summoned for the identification parade via a call-up notice that explicitly detailed the petitioner's full particulars, thereby compromising the integrity of the identification process. Additionally, the prosecution failed to explain the delay in holding the parade or to describe the specific role played by the petitioner during the incident. Holding that the evidentiary value of the identification parade was a matter for the trial court to determine after recording evidence, the High Court concluded that the petitioner's case fell within the purview of further inquiry under Section 497(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 and granted post-arrest bail.
- Whether an identification parade has evidentiary value if the call-up notice summoning the witnesses contains the full particulars of the accused prior to the parade?
- Does an unexplained delay of several days in holding an identification parade after the arrest of an accused justify the grant of post-arrest bail under the rule of further inquiry?
- Can post-arrest bail be granted under Section 497(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 where the accused was not nominated in the FIR and no physical descriptions of the assailants were initially provided?
- Section 302, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 109, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 34, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 54, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
- Section 497(2), Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
ORDER
' AALIA NEELUM, J. Petitioner seeks post arrest bail in case F.I.R. No, 203/2012, dated 05.09.2012 under Sections 302/109/34, P.P.C. Police Station Karrianwala, District Gujrat.
2. Briefly stated the prosecution version as set forth in the F.I.R. Is that on 05.09.2012 at about 1:00 p.m., the petitioner alongwith his co-accused persons put brother-in-law of the complainant on the ground and one unknown accused made fire, which hit on the head of the deceased and thereafter, the other assailant made fire which hit near left cheek of the victim. Both the assailants fled away on their motorcycle by throwing the victim in the Jungle. Rashid succumbed to the injuries there. The motive behind the occurrence was stated to be a monetary dispute of the deceased with certain. Persons.
3. Heard and record perused.
4. Admittedly, the petitioner has not been nominated in the F.I.R. The F.I.R. Was lodged against two unknown accused and neither features, descriptions, aged height and complexion of the unknown accused persons were given by the complainant in the F.I.R. Nor the prosecution witnesses have stated a single word in this regard. Whereas after 21 months 14 days, it is stated by the prosecution that the petitioner was identified by the prosecution witnesses during test of identification parade.
It is noticed that on 12.06.2014, the Investigating Officer with the help of other police officers apprehended present petitioner while standing in Chowk. It is not mentioned by the I.O. That what were the circumstances, in which he arrested present petitioner under Section 54, Cr.P.C., when entire file is silent till 12.06.2014. Thereafter, on the same day i.e, 12.06.2014, the petitioner allegedly made extra-judicial confession upon which the petitioner was sent to judicial lock-up on the next day by the order of the learned Judicial Magistrate. Whereas witnesses were summoned for taking part in the test identification parade through call up notice dated 17.6.2014, wherein full particulars of the accused/petitioner were mentioned. Hence, identification parade was held on 19.6.2014 after eight days from date of arrest and after two days from date of summoning witnesses with ample opportunity of having been seen by the complainant and the witnesses. The prosecution has not rendered any explanation in respect of delay in holding identification parade. It is also noticed that at the time of identification parade, the prosecution had not described the role of the petitioner, which was played by him at the time of the incident. Apart from above, the complainant nominated the petitioner as an accused on 20.6.2014 through his supplementary statement, wherein, the complainant had stated that he was not aware about the name of the accused prior to identification parade, which is against record as name of the accused alongwith his full particulars were mentioned in the call up notice dated 17.6.2014. The evidentiary value of the identification parade would be determined by the learned Trial Court after recording of evidence of the parties. In above-said circumstances, case of the petitioner falls within the purview of sub- section (2) of Section 497, Cr.P.C. And requires further inquiry.
5. For the reasons supra, the petition is accepted and the petitioner is admitted to post-arrest bail subject to his furnishing bail bonds in the sum of Rs, 2,00,000/- with two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the learned Trial Court.
Bail after arrest granted.