BAZ MUHAMMAD and another vs THE STATE through National Accountability

This matter comes before the Supreme Court of Pakistan through two petitions directed against the same judgment involving common questions of law and facts. The core legal question concerns the reappraisal of evidence to determine whether the findings of conviction recorded by the courts below satisfy the requirements established by the Court for the safe administration of criminal justice, particularly in light of contentions that the case rested on no evidence. The Court held that leave to appeal is granted to reappraise the evidence. Furthermore, noting that the petitioners have already served out their substantive sentences, the Court decided that the sentences awarded in default of payment of fine should be suspended. The key principle laid down is that where leave is granted to reappraise evidence in a criminal conviction and substantive sentences have already been served, the remaining sentence in default of fine may be suspended and the accused admitted to bail.