FARMAN ULLAH Versus State
The petitioner sought leave to appeal against the order of the Peshawar High Court declining him post-arrest bail in a case registered under Sections 337-A(v) and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860. The core legal question was whether the petitioner was entitled to post-arrest bail considering the delay in lodging the FIR, the nature of the scuffle, and the attending circumstances of the case. The Supreme Court converted the petition into an appeal and allowed it, granting post-arrest bail to the petitioner. The court held that where an incident occurs at the spur of the moment involving stone pelting from both factions during a sudden altercation, and there is an unexplained inordinate delay in lodging the FIR alongside a delayed recovery of the weapon from an open place, the case calls for further inquiry under Section 497 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898. The key principles laid down include that the liberty of a person is a precious constitutional right and that cumulative attending circumstances such as delayed reporting and sudden affray can tilt the balance in favor of granting post-arrest bail even if an injury is attributed to a vital part of the body.
- Whether unexplained delay of nine days in lodging the FIR warrants the grant of post-arrest bail?
- Does an incident arising from a sudden altercation involving mutual stone pelting bring the case within the scope of further inquiry under Section 497 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898?
- Whether post-arrest bail can be granted when injuries are sustained on a vital part of the body but attending circumstances cast doubt on the prosecution's version?
- Article 185(3), Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973
- Section 337-A(v), Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 34, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 497, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
- Section 161, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
ORDER
SAYYED MAZAHAR ALI AKBAR NAQVI, J.- --Petitioner has invoked the jurisdiction of this Court under Article 185(3) of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 calling in question the order of Single Bench of Peshawar High Court dated 29.06.2020 declining post arrest bail to the petitioner with prayer to grant the same in the interest of safe administration of justice.
2. The petitioner was booked in response to an occurrence which took place on 21.05.2020 at 7.00 p.m., during which an altercation took place between two factions wherein stone pelting was done against each other. As a consequence, Zia Ullah sustained injuries on his head which was ascribed to Farman Ullah, petitioner. Motive behind the occurrence is dispute over agricultural land. The local police received information qua the incident which was incorporated bearing FIR No.91/2020 dated 30.05.2020 under section 337-A(v)/34, P.P.C. registered with Police Station Samarbagh, District Dir Lower.
3. At the very outset, it has been argued by learned counsel for the petitioner that there is unexplained delay of nine days in lodging of FIR for which no explanation has been rendered. Contends that the accusation has been aggravated by the prosecution while nominating the petitioner as the main perpetrator of the aforesaid crime. Contends that in fact it was sudden affairs in which both the factions threw stones against each other, as such the allegation ascribed against the petitioner cannot be substantiated with exactitude. Contends that recovery of alleged stone after lapse of nine days from open place further create dent in recovery proceedings. Lastly it is argued that injured remained in hospital only for two days and even afterwards the matter was reported to the local police with the delay of seven days raise suspicion in the genuineness of the prosecution version.
4. On the other hand, learned Law Officer states that the petitioner is nominated in the crime report with specific allegation. The CT-Scan clearly shows that there is fracture of skull on the right side frontal bone with depression. Contends that "Hematoma" is also seen in right frontal lube with surrounding edetna (edema). Contends that in view of the report of CT-Scan it is abundantly clear that the petitioner has committed the offence which do fall within prohibition contained under section 497,Cr.P.C., therefore, the petitioner is not entitled for bail after arrest.
5. We have heard the learned counsel for the parties and gone through the record.
There is no denial to this fact that the injury ascribed to the petitioner is on vital part of the body; however, this Court cannot loose sight of the other attending circumstances while adjudicating the matter before us. Undeniably, there is in-ordinate delay of nine days in lodging of FIR for which no explanation has been rendered by the prosecution. The injured was admitted in the emergency on 21.05.2020 whereas he was discharged from the hospital on 23.05.2020. It is strange enough that even after being discharge from the hospital, the matter was not reported to the police which aspect cannot be ignored especially when the inter se distance between place of occurrence and police station is merely 6/7 kilometers. Otherwise bare perusal of contents of the crime report reflects that the incident has taken place at the spur of moment without any prior preparation. There is no allegation that any conventional weapon was used to commit the instant crime rather it is specifically mentioned that the injury was caused while hitting the injured by a stone. The prosecution witnesses during their statements under section 161, Cr.P.C. categorically stated that stone pelting was done during the scuffle from both sides. This aspect further lends support to the fact that the stone was recovered by the investigating officer after the lapse of nine days from an open place. When all these facts are evaluated conjointly, possibility cannot be ruled out that the accusation levelled against the petitioner is an after thought. This Court is conscious of the fact that liberty of the person is a precious right which has been guaranteed under the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973. The accumulative effect of all these facts and circumstances narrated above, we are persuaded to grant leave to appeal in the instant petition while converting it into appeal and the same is allowed. The petitioner shall be released on bail subject to his furnishing bail bonds in the sum of Rs.1,00,000/-with two sureties in the like amount to the satisfaction of the learned trial court.
6. These are the reasons of our short order dated 13.08.2020 which is reproduced below:-
"For reasons to be recorded later, this petition is converted into appeal and allowed. The petitioner is granted post arrest bail subject to his furnishing bail bonds in the sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with two sureties in the like amount to the satisfaction of the Trial Court concerned."
MWA/F-14/SC Bail granted.