MUHAMMAD IQBAL vs THE STATE
This post-arrest bail application arose out of an F.I.R. registered under Section 302, Pakistan Penal Code 1860, regarding the murder of the complainant's brother by unknown persons. The prosecution subsequently implicated the petitioner based on the statements of two witnesses recorded over a year after the incident, claiming to have seen the deceased last in the petitioner's company, alongside the recovery of an unexamined pistol. The main legal question before the High Court was whether the delayed witness statements, uncorroborated recovery, and absence of motive entitled the petitioner to bail under Section 497(2), Code of Criminal Procedure 1898. The Lahore High Court granted bail, holding that the unexplained, inordinate delay in recording the statements of the 'last seen' witnesses, the lack of Forensic Science Laboratory matching for the pistol, the absence of any alleged motive, and the erroneous finding of absconding by the trial court rendered the petitioner's guilt a matter requiring further inquiry.
- Does an unexplained delay of over a year in recording witness statements make a case one of further inquiry under Section 497(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898?
- Can recovery of a weapon operate against an accused for bail purposes if no empty was recovered and the weapon was not sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory?
- Can an accused be treated as an absconder without the initiation of proceedings under Sections 87 and 88 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898?
- Section 302, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 87, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
- Section 88, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
- Section 497(2), Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
ORDER
' Muhammad Iqbal son of Allah Wasaya-petitioner has sought post-arrest bail in case F.I.R. No,154, registered at Police Station, Tranda Muhammad Panah, on 28-6-2001, for offence under section 302, P.P.C.
2. The relevant facts as set down in the F.I.R. Are that Hazoor Bakhsh, brother of the complainant, used to run a Hotel near the Office of the Union Council, Taranda Muhammad Panah. 8/10 days prior to the occurrence Hazoor Bakhsh left the Hotel business. One day prior to the registration of the case Hazoor Bakhsh left on Cycle to Tranda Muhammad Panah and did not return to his house.
On 28-6-2001 when the complainant was going towards his office Abdul Majeed informed him that Hazoor Bakhsh has been murdered in Madina Colony. The complainant alongwith P.Ws. Rushed to Madina Colony and saw that his brother Hazoor Bakhsh was lying dead in a pool of blood after receiving injuries. According to F.I.R., some unknown persons for unknown reasons had murdered Hazoor Bakhsh. On 3-10-2002 the police recorded the statements of Muhammad Waris and Ghulam Haider, P.Ws., who stated that they had seen Hazoor Bakhsh-deceased in the company of Rajab Ali and Muhammad Iqbal when all of three had gone to take tea at a Hotel. Thereafter Muhammad Iqbal-petitioner was arrested on 16-6-2002. He led to the recovery of pistol on 21-10- 2002.
3. I have heard the learned counsel for the parties and gone through the record. It has been noticed that the statements of P.Ws. Ghulam Haider and Muhammad Waris were not recorded by the police for more than a year though according to the statements of the aforementioned P.Ws.
They had informed the complainant at the funeral ceremony of Hazoor Bakhshdeceased that they had seen Hazoor Bakhsh in the company of Rajab All and Muhammad Iqbal; that as far as the recovery' of pistol if concerned, suffice it to say that !Neither ,any empty was recovered from the scene of occurence nor the pistol was sent to the force Science Laboralory that even in the belated statements of motive has been alleged against the petitioner; that the learned trial Court has wrongly assumed that the petitioner was absconder, as he was arrested within 13 days after recording of the statements of the P.Ws. Muhammad Waris and Rajab Ali; and that no proceedings under section 87/88, Cr.P.C. Were initiated against the petitioner. In these circumstances, the allegation against the petitioner needs further probe and inquiry within the ambit of subsection (2) of section 497, Cr.P.C., therefore, I admit the petitioner to bail, subject to his tendering bail bonds in the sum of Rupees Fifty Thousand, with one surety, in the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial Court.