MUHAMMAD ASIF MUMTAZ vs THE STATE
This matter arises from a bail application filed by the applicant, Muhammad Asif Mumtaz, who was charged under section 392/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 for allegedly snatching a motorcycle at gunpoint. The core legal question concerns whether the applicant is entitled to post-arrest bail given the circumstances of his arrest, the lack of weapon recovery, and non-compliance with statutory provisions regarding independent witnesses. The Sindh High Court held that since the applicant was apprehended on the spot at the outcries of the informant, an identification parade was unnecessary. However, the court found that the absence of weapon recovery, the failure to arrest the co-accused, and the lack of independent mashirs under section 103 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 brought the case within the scope of further inquiry under section 497(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898. Consequently, the court granted bail to the applicant subject to furnishing solvent surety. The key principle laid down is that the informant alone signing the recovery memo does not satisfy the mandatory requirement for independent witnesses under section 103 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898.
- Whether an identification parade is necessary when an accused is arrested on the spot during the commission of the offense?
- Does the signature of the informant on the mashirnama satisfy the mandatory requirements of section 103 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898?
- Does the absence of weapon recovery and non-compliance with section 103 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 make the case one of further inquiry under section 497 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898?
- Section 392, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 34, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 103, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
- Section 497, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
ORDER
1. ' The applicant is charged with an offence under section 392/34, P.P.C. On the allegation of snatching a motorcycle. According to the F.I.R. The informant Muhammad Siddiq came out on Main Road Bazar on his motorcycle when two young boys stopped him and snatched away his motorcycle by force on the point of arms, a Police Mobile was moving in the area and on cries and potation of the informant the applicant and co-accused started riding on snatched motorcycle were chased. The motorcycle slipped and the applicant got injured and was arrested. His co- accused ran away. An application for bail was rejected by the Judicial Magistrate and IIIrd Additional Sessions Judge, hence this bail application has been preferred.
2. ' Mr. Muhammad Ikram Siddiqui, learned counsel for the applicant contended that no identification parade was held, no weapons were recovered and that the requirement of section 103, Cr.P.C. Were not complied with. On the other hand, Mr. Sharafat Ali Khan, learned counsel for the State argued that the applicant was arrested red-handed at the potation of the informant who also signed Mashirnama of arrest. In the circumstances, there was an adequate evidence against the applicant and he was not entitled to the concession of bail.
3. I am not impressed by first contention of Mr. Muhammad Ikram Siddiqui and Mr. Sharafat Ali Khan appears right in contending that when the arrest itself was caused on the spot at the potation of the informant no subsequent identification test was necessary. However, there appears substance in the contention that in the absence of recovery of any weapon from the applicant and the fact that the alleged co-accused was never arrested it could be safely assumed that the matter required further inquiry. Moreover, though the offence is alleged to have been committed in the Main Bazar at 4-50 p.m. No independent witness of the locality has been acted as Mashir and no explanation for non-compliance with the provision of section 103, Cr.P.C. Has been furnished. Mr. Sharafat Khan submitted that the Mashimama is signed by the informant himself, but I do not think that this would be sufficient compliance with the requirement of section 103, which postulates independent evidence so as to exclude the possibility of false involvement. For the foregoing reasons, I would grant bail to the applicant upon furnishing solvent surety in the sum of Rs,1,00,000 (Rupees one hundred thousand only) with P.R. Bond in the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial Court. He will be released from custody if not required in any other case. All observations made above are tentative and will not prejudice the trial
Cited by 8 cases
- JAMIL AHMED vs THE STATE 2008 YLR 2184
- NAVEED vs THE STATE 2008 PLD Karachi 154
- SHAUKAT ALI vs THE STATE 2008 YLR 914
- NIAZ vs THE STATE 2004 P C R L J 1192
- NIAZ Versus THE STATE 2004 PCRLJ 1192
- MUHAMMAD IMRAN Versus THE STATE 2004 PCRLJ 535
- ALI GUL vs THE STATE 2006 YLR 2246
- KHAWAND BAKHSH vs THE STATE 2002 MLD 1392