MUHAMMAD FAYYAZ Versus THE STATE
The petitioner, Muhammad Fayyaz, sought post-arrest bail in case F.I.R. No. 291 registered under sections 302, 324, 148, 149, 337-A(i)(ii), and F(iv) of the Pakistan Penal Code at Police Station Batapur, Lahore. The core legal question was whether the petitioner was entitled to post-arrest bail given his specific role in the crime, the corroboration of injuries by medical evidence and injured witnesses, and his age determination. The Lahore High Court held that since the petitioner was nominated in a promptly recorded F.I.R., was attributed specific injuries supported by medical evidence, was determined to be over 18 years of age, and the delay in trial was attributable to the accused party, no case for extraordinary relief was made out. The court laid down the principle that contradictions between operational notes and medical-legal reports require a deeper appreciation of evidence which is not permissible at the bail stage, and that an accused person responsible for delaying the trial cannot use the passage of time as a ground for bail.
- Whether contradictions between operational notes and medical-legal reports warrant the grant of post-arrest bail?
- Is an accused person entitled to bail on the ground of statutory delay when the delay is being caused by the accused party itself?
- Whether a petitioner nominated in a promptly recorded F.I.R. with specific roles and corroborated medical evidence is entitled to post-arrest bail?
- Section 302, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 324, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 148, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 149, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 337-A, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Juvenile Justice System Ordinance, 2000
ORDER
Muhammad Fayyaz son of Muhammad Sharif seeks after arrest bail in case F.I.R. No.291, dated 28-9-2002 under sections 302, 324, 148, 149, 337-A(i)(ii), F(iv), P.P.C. registered with Police Station Batapur, Lahore.
2. The allegations levelled by the complainant in the F.I.R. are that on 28-9-2002 at 5-30 p.m. Muhammad Hanif younger brother of the complainant was going towards his tube-well. The complainant alongwith his other brothers Ashraf and Muzaffar were also going after him. When Muhammad Hanif passed in front of Haveli of Muhammad Sharif accused, he was asked by Muhammad Sharif to keep his dog tied, on which there was exchange of hot words between Muhammad Hanif and Muhammad Sharif complainant and his other two brothers namely Ashraf and Muzaffar tried to cool down the parties when Muhammad Sharif brought hatchet from his Haveli, his sun Ishaq arrived armed with .222 rifle, his younger son Farzand also armed with .12 bore gun, Faryad armed with Sota, Fayyaz armed with Hatchet and Muhammad Nawaz armed with Sota also emerged at the spot raising Lalkaras. Muhammad Sharif accused gave hatchet blow hitting on the head of Muhammad Hanif, Ishaq fired from his rifle .222 bore on the back of Muhammad Hanif, Faryad caused Sota blows to Muhammad Hanif, Faryad also fired from his .12 bore gun hitting Ashraf and the complainant. Fayyaz caused hatchet blow on Muzaffar while Nawaz caused Sota blow to him. Fayyaz also caused hatchet blow at tire complainant. Muhammad Nawaz and Faryad inflicted injuries to Ashraf. All the four bothers were inured, on which accused fled away from the spot by raising Lalkaras. Muhammad Hanif succumbed to the injuries on the way when he was being removed to the hospital.
The relief was declined to the petitioner by the learned Addl. Sessions Judge, Lahore vide order dated 29-9-2003. Hence this petition.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that according to school leaving certificate, the petitioner was 17 years of age at the time of occurrence; that he has not been attributed any injury to the deceased and according to F.I.R. he was allegedly armed with hatchet but recovery of Sota has been effected during investigation; that injury attributed to the petitioner are on non-vital part of the body and simple in nature; that there is clear contradiction in the operational notes and MLRs; that the petitioner is behind the bars for more than 1 and half years, therefore, he be allowed bail.
5. The petition has been opposed by the learned counsel for complainant and, State.
6. Learned counsel for the complainant has pointed out that petitioner moved an application for his .trial as a juvenile offender but his petition was dismissed on the basis of his birth certificate according to which he was more than 18 years at the time instant occurrence took place and that order has not been further challenged by the petitioner; that the allegation levelled against the petitioner have been corroborated by medical evidence and the injured witnesses support the prosecution. story as narrated by the complainant in the F. I. R.; that the delay is being caused by the accused in conclusion of the trial that during investigation it has been found that accused party was aggressor party, therefore, the present petitioner is not entitled to any concession of bail.
7. I have heard the learned counsel for the parties and perused the record very carefully.
8. The petitioner is nominated accused in promptly recorded F.I.R. with specific role having caused injuries with hatchet to three P.Ws. which have been fully corroborated by medical evidence. He has already been declared more than 18 years of age when the occurrence took place and his petition for trial under Juvenile Justice System Ordinance, 2000 has been dismissed. The contradictions pointed out by the learned counsel for the petitioner in operational notes and MLRs require deeper appreciation of evidence which is not possible at this stage. The injured P.Ws. support the prosecution story for involvement of present petitioner. The delay in conclusion of the trial is being caused by the accused party, therefore, I do not find any force in this petition for grant of extraordinary relief. The petitioner is therefore, dismissed.
H.B.T./M-271/L Bail application dismissed.
Cited by 1 case
- SHAHID alias SHADOO vs THE STATE 2005 MLD 470