Mst. KHALIDA PARVEEN vs THE STATE
The petitioner seeks post-arrest bail in a case registered under section 10(2) of the Offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance, 1979. The core legal question concerns whether the petitioner, initially stated to be an abducted person but later arraigned as an accused and claiming to be the legally wedded wife of the co-accused, is entitled to bail, particularly considering her status as a woman. The Lahore High Court held that the case requires further inquiry as to the genuineness of the Nikahnama, and that being a woman, her case is squarely covered under the first proviso to section 497 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898. Consequently, the bail petition was allowed, and the petitioner was admitted to bail subject to furnishing surety bonds. The key principle laid down is that female accused persons are ordinarily entitled to the beneficial concession of bail under the first proviso to section 497 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, unless exceptional circumstances warrant otherwise, and disputed questions of document genuineness are to be resolved by the trial court after evidence.
- Is a female accused entitled to the concession of bail under the first proviso to section 497 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898?
- Does a case require further inquiry when there is a dispute regarding the genuineness of a Nikahnama establishing a marriage between the accused persons?
- Can the question of the validity of a marriage document be resolved at the bail stage without appraisal of evidence by the trial court?
- Section 10(2), Offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance 1979
- Section 164, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
- Section 497, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
ORDER
Petitioner seeks grant of post-arrest bail in case F.LR. No,217, dated 8-7-2001 registered under section 10(2) of the Offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance, VII of 1979 at Police Station Saddar Gojra, District Toba Tek Singh.
2. After hearing the learned counsel for the parties and perusing the record, it has been observed that initially the story of the prosecution was that Mst. Khalida Parveen petitioner was abductted by one Muhammad Ilyas for the purpose of fornication but later on during investigation the petitioner has been arraigned as an accused person. She was taken into custody on 5-10-2001. Record of this case shows that the petitioner is the legally wedded wife of Muhammad Ilyas. The Nikah was performed on 12-7-2001 and the Copy of Nikahnama is also available on the file. The file also reveals that Mst. Khalid Parveen petitioner made a statement under section 164, Cr.P.C. before the Magistrate stating therein that she was never abducted by anybody and she intends to get marry with Muhammad Ilyas. Learned counsel for the complainant submits that the Nikahnama relied upon by the petitioner's counsel was prepared after the registration of the present case and the same document cannot be taken into consideration. The question about the genuineness of the document in question can only be resolved by the Trial Court after appraisal of evidence produced by the parties. Prima facie, in the circumstances, case of the petitioner requires further inquiry entitling her to the concession of bail. Even otherwise, the petitioner being lady, her case covered under 1st proviso to section 497. Cr.P.C. In this view of the matter, the instant petition is allowed and the petitioner is admitted to bail subject to her furnishing bail bonds in the sum of Rs,10,000 (Rupees Ten thousand only) with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of the Trial Court.