Legal Case Summary

Case Details
Case ID 0f5dd0c6-5ca1-49b4-ab1e-f88954094e60
Body View case body.
Case Number Criminal Petition for Leave to Appeal No. 164 of 1
Decision Date May 10, 1983
Hearing Date
Decision The Supreme Court of Pakistan dismissed the petition filed by Muhammad Ali against the judgment and order of the learned Special Judge, Anti Corruption, Bahawalpur, which had sentenced him to six months' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 500 under section 5(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947. The main charge was that he was living beyond his means and had acquired property disproportionate to his legitimate income. The court found that the petitioner possessed a residential house and a bank balance which he could not satisfactorily account for. The petitioner's arguments regarding the lack of unimpeachable evidence and claims that the conviction was based on conjecture were dismissed. The courts below had properly appraised all relevant evidence, leading to the conclusion that the conviction and sentence were justified. Thus, the petition was found to be without merit and was dismissed accordingly.
Summary In the case of Muhammad Ali vs. The State, the Supreme Court of Pakistan examined the validity of a conviction under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947. The petitioner, Muhammad Ali, challenged the lower courts' findings that he had amassed wealth beyond his legitimate income. The court evaluated the evidence presented, including a residential property and a significant bank balance, which the petitioner could not adequately explain. The decision emphasized the importance of thorough evidence appraisal in corruption cases, affirming that the lower courts had acted within their jurisdiction in upholding the conviction. The case highlights critical aspects of legal proceedings related to corruption, evidentiary standards, and the role of judicial review in ensuring justice. Key legal principles from the Constitution of Pakistan (1973) and the Prevention of Corruption Act (II of 1947) were pivotal in this ruling, reinforcing the legal framework surrounding corruption offenses.
Court Supreme Court of Pakistan
Entities Involved Not available
Judges S. A. NUSRAT, MIAN BURHANUDDIN KHAN
Lawyers S. Pir Altaf Hussain, Ch. M. Khan Mahtab
Petitioners MUHAMMAD ALI
Respondents THE STATE
Citations 1983 SLD 313, 1983 SCMR 1225
Other Citations Not available
Laws Involved Prevention of Corruption Act (II of 1947), Constitution of Pakistan (1973)
Sections 5(c)