Pakistan Case Law
2002 P Cr. L J 400

ANWAR KHAN vs THE STATE

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Citation2002 P Cr. L J 400
CourtLahore High Court
Case No.Criminal Miscellaneous No,5678/B of 2001
Date2001-10-29
Judge(s)Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry
ResultBail allowed
AI Summary — generated from this judgment; read the full text below and verify before relying on it.

This matter arises from a post-arrest bail petition filed under Section 497 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 in respect of F.I.R. No. 114 of 2001 registered under Sections 302, 324, 109, 148, and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 at Police Station Manawala, District Sheikhupura. The core legal question concerns whether the petitioner, who was not present at the spot and is charged solely with abetment where the F.I.R. omitted details of witnesses, time, and place of abetment, makes out a case for further inquiry under Section 497(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898. The Lahore High Court held that the petitioner made out a case of further inquiry falling under subsection (2) of Section 497, particularly considering his old age of 70 years and the absence of specific details regarding abetment in the initial report. Consequently, the bail application was accepted subject to furnishing surety bonds.

Questions settled in this judgment
  • Does a charge of abetment without specification of time, place, or witnesses in the F.I.R. make out a case for further inquiry under Section 497(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898?
  • Whether the old age of an accused is a relevant consideration when granting post-arrest bail?
  • Is an accused not present at the spot and charged only with abetment entitled to bail when the evidence supporting the abetment requires further verification at trial?
Laws & provisions referred
  • Section 497, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
  • Section 497(2), Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
  • Section 161, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
  • Section 302, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
  • Section 324, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
  • Section 109, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
  • Section 148, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
  • Section 149, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
post-arrest bailabetmentfurther inquiryprohibitory clauseold age infirmitycriminal procedure

ORDER

' Through this petition under section 497, Cr.P.C. The petitioner seeks bail after arrest in case F.I.R.

No,114 of 2001 registered on 18-5-2001 under sections 302, 324, 109, 148 and 149, P.P.C. With Police Station Manawala District Sheikhupura on the application of Mukhtar Ahmad for an occurrence which took place on 18-5-2001 in which Abdur Rashid was done to death by the accused and Mst.

Balqis Bibi received injuries. The petitioner namely Anwar Khan is not an accused and has not caused any injury or present at the spot. The only allegation against him is that due to his abetment the co-accused had committed the offence.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the petitioner is 70 years of age and no place of occurrence where the abetment was made has been shown in the F.I.R. And the witnesses subsequently have been mentioned and concocted story has been made in order to involve the elder of the main accused.

3. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the complainant has opposed this application on the ground that the name of the petitioner is mentioned in the F.I.R. And there is a material on the record to show that some abetment has been made by the petitioner with the co-accused for the murder of the deceased. He further contends that the main accused is still at large and the petitioner is not entitled to bail as he is an accused of a case which falls within the prohibitory clause.

4. Learned State Counsel has also opposed the bail application and contends that the petitioner is nominated in the F.I.R. And the case falls within the prohibitory clause.

5. I have heard the learned counsel for the parties and also perused the record. The allegations against the petitioner is only of abetment, the names of the witnesses have not been mentioned who have witnessed the abetment in the F.I.R., the place of abetment and time has also not been given in the F.I.R. And subsequently some witnesses have been introduced whose statement under section 161, Cr.P.C. Have been recorded to show that the abetment was made. It is yet to be seen at the time of trial whether the charge against the petitioner for the abetment of the main occurrence is supported by sufficient evidence or not. For the time being the petitioner who was not present at the spot and is not alleged to have caused any injury to the deceased or to any of the witnesses has succeeded in making out a Case of further inquiry which is covered by subsection (2) of section 497,' Cr.P.C. The petitioner is 70 years of age and old age itself brings infirmity.

6. This application is accepted and the petitioner is allowed subject to his furnishing bail bonds in the sum of Rs,50,000 with two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial Court.

Cited by 3 cases

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