Muhammad Ashraf Warraich & 10 others vs State and another
This petition for pre-arrest bail was filed by eleven petitioners seeking relief in connection with FIR No. 596 dated 29.09.2021, registered at Police Station Alipur Chatha, District Gujranwala, for alleged offences under Sections 447, 511, 440, 147, and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860. The allegations involved an attempt to destroy standing rice crops and take possession of the complainant's land. During the proceedings, the prosecution informed the Court that Section 440 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 had been deleted from the case. The Court observed that the remaining offences were bailable in nature and noted that the petitioners had no prior criminal record and had fully cooperated by joining the investigation. Consequently, the Court held that incarceration would serve no useful purpose. The petition was allowed, and the ad-interim pre-arrest bail previously granted was confirmed, subject to the petitioners furnishing fresh bail bonds in the sum of Rs. 100,000 each with one surety each to the satisfaction of the trial Court.
- Are offences under Sections 447, 511, 147, and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 bailable in nature?
- Should pre-arrest bail be confirmed when the accused have no prior criminal record and have joined the investigation?
- Section 447, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 511, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 440, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 147, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 149, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
ORDER
Through this petition, Muhammad Ashraf Warraich, Shahid Mehmood, Sajid Mehmood, Basharat Ali, Asmat Khaleeq, Mustansar alias M. Javed, Amtal Hafeez, Umar, Zahid Mehmood, Kashif Mehmood and Muhammad Anwar petitioners seek pre-arrest bail in case FIR No. 596 dated 29.09.2021 registered for offences under Sections 447, 511, 440, 147 & 149 of Pakistan Penal Code 1860, at Police Station Alipur Chatha, District Gujranwala.
2. Allegation against the petitioners is that on 23.09.2021 at 04:00 p.m. they along with their co- accused while armed with clubs attempted to destroy the standing rice crops and also to take possession of the land of the complainant.
3. Arguments heard. Record perused.
4. At the very outset, police official in attendance through the learned Prosecutor informs that Section 440 of Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, stands deleted in this case and that the petitioners having no previous criminal record have joined the investigation. The offences punishable under Section 447 read with Sections 511 and 147 of Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, are bailable in nature.
Similar would be the situation with regard to Section 149 of the Code ibid. Sending the petitioners in view of above mentioned circumstances, behind the bars is neither likely to serve any useful purpose nor seems justified. Hence, this petition is allowed and ad-interim pre-arrest bail already granted to the petitioners is confirmed subject to their furnishing fresh bail bonds in the sum of Rs.
100, 000/- each with one surety each in the like amount to the satisfaction of learned trial Court.