MUJIB-UR-REHMAN Versus State
This criminal revision petition challenges an order passed by the Sessions Judge, Lakki Marwat, which relieved the respondent-accused of trial in a murder case registered under Section 302/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860. The accused had been charged with murder but raised a plea of alibi, supported by evidence collected during the police investigation, including transport documents verifying his presence in another province during the incident. The investigating officer subsequently certified the accused's innocence and placed him in column 2 of the challan. The trial court, relying on this investigation, relieved the accused from trial pending the emergence of further material evidence. The core legal question was whether the trial court acted legally in relieving the accused based on the police's investigative findings. The Peshawar High Court dismissed the revision petition, holding that while police opinion on innocence lacks inherent persuasive value, the trial court's decision was based on sound investigative material and valid reasoning. The court affirmed that it would not interfere with a well-reasoned order where the trial court properly exercised its discretion.
- Can a trial court relieve an accused from trial based on the findings of a police investigation report?
- Does an opinion of innocence provided by the police during investigation have binding persuasive value for the court?
- Under what circumstances will the High Court interfere with a trial court's order relieving an accused from trial pending further evidence?
- Section 302, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 34, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
1. Mujib-ur-Rehman, petitioner, is aggrieved of the impugned order of the learned Sessions Judge, Lakki Marwat dated 14-12-2004 vide which the accused/respondent Asmatullah has been relieved of trial in case F.I.R. No.160 dated 22-8-2003 under section 302/34, P.P.C. P.S. Ghazni Khel on the basis of opinion/inquiry of the police.
2. The accused/respondent along with another co-accused namely Abdul Malik were charged for committing the murder of the father of the complainant in the above noted F.I.R. The accused/respondent when came to know about the charge against him, he himself surrendered to the police and from the very first day raised the plea of alibi in his favour. According to him he was in Punjab from 20-8-2003 to 15-9-2003 in connection with the collection of wheat to be brought to D.I. Khan. On the application of the accused/respondent from jail, the verification of his plea of alibi was entrusted to Inspector Bashir Ahmad, who collected bilties of goods forwarding agency Minchin Abad Bahawalnagar wherefrom accused Asmatullah brought wheat to D.I. Khan. The Investigating Officer after proper verification certified the innocence of the accused/respondent in the case. Accordingly, he was placed in column 2 of the challan. When the case was put in Court for trial, both the accused were summoned, but vide impugned order, dated 14-12-2004 the learned trial Judge relieved the accused/respondent for the time being and to put to trial if some material evidence was brought on record against him. The other co-accused was supplied copies of the relevant documents and the case was fixed for framing of charge. The petitioner is aggrieved of the aforesaid impugned order of the learned trial Court and has now filed the instant criminal revision.
3. I have heard arguments of the learned counsel for the parties and perused the material placed on record.
4. No doubt mere opinion about the innocence of an accused person has no persuasive value for the Court, but here in this case the opinion of the police is based on sound material collected during the investigation. The police has thus, showed innocence of the accused/respondent with proper reasons and if in the circumstances the learned trial Judge has exercised his powers available to him under the law, the same cannot be declared as illegal by this Court in absence of any good reasons, I therefore, see no good ground for interference in the well-reasoned order of the learned trial Court whereby accused/respondent Asmatullah has been relieved for the time being and the criminal revision is, therefore, dismissed.
5. S.A.K./355/P Revision dismissed.