SHAHID vs THE STATE
This petition for leave to appeal arises out of an order of the Peshawar High Court, Circuit Bench, Abbottabad, declining pre-trial bail to the petitioner, Shahid. The core legal question concerns whether the petitioner, who was attributed the role of holding the deceased while his co-accused inflicted fatal dagger blows, was entitled to the grant of bail on the principle of consistency, given that a co-accused with a similarly attributed role had already been granted bail, and whether his case fell within the scope of further enquiry under Section 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860. The Supreme Court of Pakistan converted the petition into an appeal and allowed the same, holding that there was substance in the contention regarding consistency and further enquiry. The key principle laid down is that where co-accused persons are assigned roles warranting further inquiry regarding the application of common intention, and a co-accused with a comparable role has already been enlarged on bail, the rule of consistency dictates that bail should likewise be extended to the remaining accused.
- Whether an accused attributed with holding the deceased is entitled to bail on the principle of consistency when a co-accused with a similar role has been granted bail?
- Does the application of common intention under Section 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 in the circumstances of the case make out a case for further enquiry warranting the grant of bail?
- Section 34, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
ORDER
' FAZAL ILAHI KHAN, J.---Leave is prayed for in this petition against the judgment of Peshawar High Court, Circuit Bench, Abbottabad dated 7-7- 1993 passed in Criminal Miscellaneous No,81 of 1993.
2. The F.I.R-cum-Dying Declaration in this case lodged by Shahzada deceased son of Muhammad Aziz was reduced into a Murasila by Fida Hussain A.S.I. While he was on 'gashe' duty. It was stated that a day earlier there had been a petty dispute between the injured and Rashid accused which was patched up. That on the morning of the occurrence Ijazul Haq brother of the injured was abused by Rashid accused who made a complaint to his father. A second Jirga was arranged at the residence of Mumtaz Anwar P.W. And the matter was again compromised. When the injured alongwith his father and the Jirga members were going back, at some distance from the house of Mumtaz Anwar, accused-petitioner Shahid alongwith Rashid his co-accused were standing on their way. Shahid accused caught hold of the deceased while Rashid his co-accused gave him 'Chhuri' blows and injured him on his abdomen and right hand. Munsif father of the accused- petitioner also gave kicks and fists blows to the injured. The injured succumbed to his injuries on 8- 11-1992. With regard to motive it was stated that Fida Hussain brother of the complainant had abducted the cousin of the accused and case against him was registered on 7-11-1992.
3. Bail application moved by all the three accused made before the Illaqa Magistrate was rejected in respect of the petitioner and his co-accused Rashid while bail was allowed to Munsif accused vide order dated 6-12-1992. The application made by the petitioner and Rashid his co-accused was declined by Sessions Judge on 21-1-1993 and their further application dismissed by the High Court on 7-7-1993, against which the present petition has been moved by Shahid accused.
4. It was contended by the learned counsel that the petitioner has been attributed the role of his having caught hold of the deceased when his co-accused was inflicting the dagger blows and similar role was attributed to Munsif their father for having given kicks and fists belows to the deceased. The latter having been extended the concession of bail, on the principle of consistency, petitioner is also entitled to the grant of bail. That in view of the A statements of the prosecution witnesses during the investigation it is to be determined whether petitioner facilitated the commission of the offence for application of section 34 makes out a case for further enquiry.
' We consider that there is substance in the above contentions, therefore, we convert this petition into appeal and allow the same. The appellant should be released on bail on furnishing bail bonds in the sum of Rs,25,000 (Twenty-five thousand) with two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the Illaqa Magistrate.
Cited by 14 cases
- Shoaib Hassan and others vs The State and others 2024 SHC 990
- ABDUL QUDOOS Versus State 2023 PCrLJN 15
- Mohsin Raza vs The State 2021 MLD 1800
- HAMADULLAH Versus State 2021 YLRN 112
- MUHAMMAD AFZAL Versus State 2017 YLRN 328
- SHER ALI Versus State 2013 YLR 487
- NADEEM alias ATHAR vs THE STATE 2011 P Cr. L J 1479
- SHOUKAT vs THE STATE 2010 MLD 1137
- KHURRAM RAZA vs THE STATE 2008 MLD 547
- KHURRAM RAZA vs THE STATE 2010 NLR Criminal 152
- MUHAMMAD AYUB CHUGHTAI Versus STATE 2000 PCRLJ 1064
- TANVIR SHAHID Versus INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE, PUNJAB, LAHORE 1999 PCRLJ 2002
- ZARIF KHAN Versus State 2005 PCRLJ 325
- Hafiz MUHAMMAD ASLAM Versus State 2006 PCRLJ 97