INAYATULLAH KHAN and anothers vs THE STATE and another
This matter arises from petitions filed against the judgment of the High Court, wherein the petitioner Inayatullah Khan's death sentence for murder was reduced to life imprisonment, and co-accused Ghazi Khan's conviction was set aside in revisional jurisdiction, while two other co-accused stood acquitted by the trial court. The core legal questions concern the sufficiency and credibility of eye-witness testimony in the background of previous enmity, the corroboration of ocular account through medical and forensic evidence, and the justification for setting aside convictions or acquittals. The Supreme Court granted leave to appeal in both petitions filed by the convict and the complainant respectively, limiting the scope of the complainant's petition to the acquittal of Ghazi Khan alone. The Court laid down that direct ocular evidence corroborated by a positive forensic report warrants examination of the correctness of an acquittal, and that consistency in appreciating evidence in criminal trials is paramount.
- Whether eye-witness testimony is sufficient for conviction when the witnesses are related to the deceased and there is a background of enmity?
- Can an acquittal of a co-accused be challenged where direct ocular evidence is corroborated by a positive report of a Fire-Arms Expert?
- Whether the High Court can set aside a conviction in the exercise of suo motu revisional jurisdiction on the same evidence relied upon for maintaining another conviction?
- Section 302, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 34, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 307, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
ORDER
SAJJAD ALI SHAH, J.---Petitioner Inayatullah Khan and three other co-accused were put on trial for offence under section 302/34, P.P.C. And trial Court convicted and sentenced petitioner Inayatullah Khan to death and fine of Rs.5,000 or in default R.I. For 6 months. Co-accused Ghazi Khan was convicted under section 307, P.P.C. And sentenced to R.I. For one year and fine of Rs.5,000 or in default R.I. For 3 months. Other two co-accused namely Tariq Khan and Noor Khan were acquitted by the trial Court.
2. It is alleged that incident took place at 5145 a.m. When deceased Abaidullah and his brothers were netting quails in the land of Khan in the area of Gundi. Inayatullah Khan and his three accomplices named above came armed with guns and allerted Abdullah that revenge would be taken from him for abduction by him of Mst. Soorat who was claimed by Inayatullah as his wife Tariq Khan and Noor Khan fired one shot each at Abaidullah which went amiss. Ghazi Khan fired shot which hit Abaidullah on his left calf and Inayatullah fired shot which hit him on his chest. He fell down injured and died while on way to the hospital. During investigation four crime empties were secured from the spot and four guns were recovered from the accused persons. Trial Court convicted two and acquitted remaining two as stated above.
3. In the High Court, Inayatullah challenged his conviction and sentence of death. Complainant Mowaz Khan filed revision application for enhancement of fine of Inayatullah and sentence of Ghazi Khan to life imprisonment and also against acquittal of two co-accused. High Court has reduced sentence of Inayatullah from death to life imprisonment and in suo motu exercise of revisional jurisdiction, set aside conviction ukler section 307, P.P.C.' and sentence of one year of Ghazi Khan.
4. Two petitions are filed in this Court, one by Inayatullah against his conviction and sentence and the other by complainant Mowaz Khan for enhancement of sentence of Inayatullah and against acquittal of co-accused. On behalf of petitioner Inayatullah, it is contended that evidence pn the record is insufficient to warrant conviction inasmuch as eye-witnesses are brother of the deceased and their presence at the spot is doubtful and further there is background of enmity. On the basis of same evidence three co-accused have been acquitted. Post-mortem report belies claim of eye-witnesses that deceased had taken Sehri before the incident and deceased sustained two shots.
5. As against that on behalf of Mowaz Khan complainant, it is contended that Ghazi Khan should not have been acquitted, when in respect of him direct evidence was corroborated by positive report of Fire-Arms Expert in proof of assertion that he caused injuries to the deceased. In the circumstances we grant leave in both the petitions and scope of petition of complainant Mowaz Khan is limited to acquittal of Ghazi Khan only not in respect of other two co-accused namely Tariq Khan and Noor Khan who were acquitted by the trial Court.