NAZIR JAN Versus SAIL KHAN
This petition for leave to appeal challenged the acquittal of the respondent, Sial Khan, in a homicide case. The respondent was originally acquitted by the trial court in 1992. Although the State did not challenge this acquittal, the High Court remanded the matter for a fresh decision. Following his subsequent arrest and trial, the respondent was again acquitted in 2010, a decision upheld by the High Court in 2011. The petitioner argued that the respondent's case was identical to that of a convicted co-accused, Pirat Khan, and thus the acquittal was unjustified. The Supreme Court examined the procedural history and noted that at the time of the initial remand, there was no statutory provision allowing for an appeal against acquittal by a complainant or aggrieved person, as the relevant amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, was only enacted in 1994. Consequently, the Court held that the subsequent prosecution lacked a valid statutory basis. Furthermore, the Court found the trial court's analysis of the evidence to be a possible view, warranting no interference. Leave to appeal was declined.
- Was there a statutory basis for an appeal against acquittal by a private complainant prior to the enactment of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Second Amendment) Act, 1994?
- Can a court remand a case for retrial against an accused whose acquittal was not challenged by the State?
- Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898
- Code of Criminal Procedure (Second Amendment) Act, 1994
ORDER
QAZI MUHAMMAD AMIN AHMED, J .---Sial Khan, respondent, is in the array of the accused, in a case of homicide wherein Noora Jan deceased 55/56 was shot dead at 7:00 p.m. on 9.9.1989 within the precincts of Police Station Doaba; the deceased received two fire shots on his chest, attributed to the respondent alongside Pirat Khan, since convicted; the latter came up with a botched cross-version, registered vide separate First Information Report of even date. The learned trial Judge held Pirat Khan responsible for both shots to the deceased and proceeded to acquit three co-accused including the respondent vide judgment dated 28.09.1992, set aside by the Peshawar High Court vide judgment dated 20.12.1993 whereby the case was remanded for decision afresh after affording opportunity of hearing to the both sides. Pirat Khan's conviction was maintained, however, he was sentenced to imprisonment for life; the co-accused barring the respondent were again acquitted from the charge and in view of respondent's absence, he was declared proclaimed offender vide judgment dated 26.06.1994; upon his arrest, he was tried and ultimately acquitted by the trial Court vide judgment dated 19.06.2010, upheld by the High Court vide impugned judgment dated 21.09.2011, vires whereof, are being assailed primarily on the ground that his case being at par with the convicted co-accused Pirat Khan, there was no occasion for the courts below to draw any distinction so as to let him off the hook.
2. Heard. Record perused.
3. The respondent was first acquitted by the trial Court way back on 28.09.1992; notwithstanding the fact that the State did not opt to challenge his acquittal, the High Court remanded the entire case while taking the respondent as well as the convicted co-accused on board in the absence of any appeal pending before it. Statute provided appeal against acquittal to the complainant or an aggrieved person by amending the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 through the Act XX of 1994 Code of Criminal Procedure (Second Amendment) Act, 1994, notified on 14 th November, 1994 and, thus, there was no statutory basis for respondent's subsequent prosecution, though resulting into his acquittal. The error has duly been noticed by the High Court in the impugned judgment. Even otherwise, trial court's analysis whereunder the respondent was acquitted from the charge presents a possible view that does not call for interference. Petition fails. Leave declined.
MWA/N-6/SC Petition dismissed.
Cited by 1 case
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