Pakistan Case Law
1997 P Cr. L J 850

MANZOOR AHMAD and anothers vs THE STATE

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Citation1997 P Cr. L J 850
CourtLahore High Court
Case No.Criminal Miscellaneous No.911/B of 1996
Date1996-06-05
Judge(s)Ch. Khurshid Ahmad
ResultPre-arrest bail allowed
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The petitioners sought pre-arrest bail in a criminal case registered under sections 148, 302/149, 324/149, and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860, relating to an F.I.R. concerning murder and murderous assault following a land dispute. The core allegation against the petitioners was abetment under section 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860, although they were admittedly not present at the scene of the occurrence. The Lahore High Court considered that the Shariat Appellate Bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in Federation of Pakistan v. Gul Hassan Khan had declared section 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 to be repugnant to the Injunctions of Islam, which ruling was given effect by the Supreme Court in a subsequent review petition. The Court held that since section 109 had ceased to have effect, its application against the petitioners was unlawful, presenting reasonable grounds for further inquiry into their guilt. Consequently, the Lahore High Court confirmed the pre-arrest bail granted to the petitioners.

Questions settled in this judgment
  • Whether Section 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 ceased to have effect after being declared repugnant to the Injunctions of Islam?
  • Can pre-arrest bail be confirmed when the penal provision regarding abetment applied against the accused has ceased to be effective?
  • Does the absence of the accused at the scene of the occurrence coupled with an allegation of abetment under a defunct provision constitute grounds for further inquiry?
Laws & provisions referred
  • Section 148, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
  • Section 302, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
  • Section 149, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
  • Section 324, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
  • Section 109, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
pre-arrest bailabetmentrepugnant to injunctions of islamcriminal conspiracyfurther inquirymurder

ORDER

1. ' The petitioners were nominated as accused persons in case F.I.R. No,148/96 registered at Police Station Saddar, Chichawatni on 9-5-1996 under sections 148, 302/149, 324/149 and 109, P.P.C. On the basis of statement made by Abdul Ghani son of Fateh Muhammad to Shafique Ahmad, S.-I./S.H.O.

2. Of the police station.

2. The allegation against the petitioner as contained in the F.I.R. Was that over a dispute regarding allotment of land situated in Chak No,111/12-L under Horse Breeding Scheme, a Punchayat had taken place in which the petitioner and Zahoor Ahmad their co-accused, had extended open threats that in case they were not given the share in the said land the complainant and his children shall be reduced into pieces. During the night between 8/9-5-1996 Zahoor Ahmad and four others while armed with deadly weapons formed an unlawful assembly and committed Qatl-i-Amd of Abdul Ghaffar and made murderous assault on the P.Ws. Admittedly the petitioners were not present at the time of occurrence. Allegation against the petitioners was that of abetment under section 109, P.P.C. Shariat Appellate Bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in Federation of Pakistan through Secretary, Ministry of Law and another v. Gul Hassan Khan and other appeals PLD 1989 SC 633 has held the provisions of section 109, P.P.C. To be repugnant to the Injunction of Islam.

3. This judgment was approved by their Lordships of the Supreme Court in Shariat Review Petition.

4. Federation of Pakistan and another v. N.-W.F.P. Government and others PLD 1990 SC 1172 and it was held to take effect on 12th day of Rabi-ul-Awwal, 1411 A.H. On which date the said provision to the extent they had been declared repugnant to the Injunctions of Islam ceased to have effect and it was held that:-- "Accordingly, it is ordered that the decision of this Court, dated 5th July, 1989, whereby the provisions declared and held therein as repugnant to the Injunctions of Islam, and which was to take effect on 23rd March, 1990, would now, on the disposal of this review petition, shall take effect on 12th day of Rabi-ul-Awwal 1411 A.H.; on which day the said provisions to the extent they have been declared and held to be repugnant to the Injunctions of Islam, shall cease to have effect."

5. Section 109, P.P.C. Having been declared to be repugnant to the Injunctions of Islam, the application thereof as against the petitioners was against the provision of law for the time being in force and there are reasonable grounds to believe that the petitioners are, not guilty of the offence alleged against them but that there are sufficient grounds for further inquiry into their guilt. The application is, therefore, allowed and the interim pre-arrest to the petitioners on 20-5-1996 is confirmed. They shall, however, file fresh bail bonds in the sum of Rs, one lac each with two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of A.C./City Magistrate, Chichawatni.

6. Pre-arrest .

Cited by 6 cases

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