Legal Case Summary

Case Details
Case ID 0bdd4bfb-83ee-4ecf-ab5f-0ea23c56ae98
Body View case body.
Case Number Crl. A. No. 10549 of 2021
Decision Date Apr 18, 2024
Hearing Date Apr 18, 2024
Decision The Lahore High Court allowed the appeal filed by Rao Humayun Waqas against his conviction under Section 302(b) of the Pakistan Penal Code for the murder of Mustafa Ahmad. The court held that the prosecution failed to establish the guilt of the accused beyond a reasonable doubt, emphasizing that mere abscondence does not equate to guilt. The court found that the evidence presented was insufficient to support the conviction, leading to the acquittal of the appellant. Consequently, the judgment of conviction and sentence was set aside, and the appellant was ordered to be released immediately if not required in any other case.
Summary In the case of Rao Humayun Waqas, the Lahore High Court reviewed the conviction under Section 302(b) of the Pakistan Penal Code, concerning the murder of Mustafa Ahmad. The case highlighted the importance of substantive evidence over mere abscondence, as the prosecution could not prove the guilt of the accused beyond a reasonable doubt. The court underscored that abscondence alone is not conclusive proof of guilt and requires corroborating evidence. The court's decision to acquit the appellant was based on the lack of credible evidence, as the testimonies presented were found to be unreliable and insufficient to substantiate the charges. This case serves as a critical reminder of the legal principle that every accused is entitled to the benefit of the doubt, reinforcing the need for due process in criminal proceedings. Keywords: Lahore High Court, Rao Humayun Waqas, acquittal, Pakistan Penal Code, Section 302(b), abscondence, legal principles, substantive evidence.
Court Lahore High Court
Entities Involved Not available
Judges Muhammad Amjad Rafiq, J.
Lawyers Sardar Khurram Latif Khan Khosa, Advocate for Appellant, Mr. Ali Hassan, APG for State
Petitioners Rao Humayun Waqas
Respondents STATE
Citations 2024 SLD 3810, 2024 PLJ 989
Other Citations PLD 2008 SC 298, 1999 AC 564, 2021 SCMR 736
Laws Involved Pakistan Penal Code, 1860
Sections 302(b)