| Case ID |
14e10d18-7d20-47fa-a5f3-3b71ee1ccb91 |
| Body |
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| Case Number |
Criminal Petition for Special Leave to Appeal No. |
| Decision Date |
Mar 08, 1981 |
| Hearing Date |
|
| Decision |
The Supreme Court upheld the decision of the Lahore High Court which acquitted the respondents in a murder case. The court found that the prosecution's evidence, primarily from related witnesses, was insufficient to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The key witness's credibility was questioned due to inconsistencies in their testimony and relationship to the deceased, leading to the conclusion that their evidence could not reliably support the prosecution's case. The court emphasized the importance of corroborative evidence and found that the acquittal by the High Court was reasonable and justified. |
| Summary |
In the case of Mst. Amina Bibi vs. Pehlwan Shah and others, the Supreme Court of Pakistan addressed the appeal concerning the acquittal of the respondents in a murder case. The prosecution alleged that the respondents had a motive for murder stemming from a previous acquittal of their relatives. However, the court found the evidence presented, particularly from closely related witnesses, to be unreliable. The court noted inconsistencies in witness testimonies and emphasized the necessity for corroborative evidence in criminal cases. This decision highlights the critical role of evidentiary standards in ensuring justice within the legal system, reinforcing the principle that the prosecution must meet a high burden of proof. The Supreme Court's ruling serves as a significant reference point in the interpretation of evidentiary standards and the treatment of witness credibility in murder trials under Pakistani law. Keywords: Supreme Court of Pakistan, murder case, acquittal, evidentiary standards, witness credibility, prosecution burden of proof, legal principles. |
| Court |
Supreme Court of Pakistan
|
| Entities Involved |
Not available
|
| Judges |
Dorab Patel,
Muhammad Haleem,
Muhammad Afzal Zullah
|
| Lawyers |
Sardar Muhammad Ishaq Khan,
M. Afzal Siddiqi,
Ch. Muhammad Tariq Azam,
Ch. Akhar Ali,
M. Kawkab Iqbal
|
| Petitioners |
Mst. Amina Bibi
|
| Respondents |
others,
Pehlwan Shah
|
| Citations |
1981 SLD 123,
1981 SCMR 613
|
| Other Citations |
Not available
|
| Laws Involved |
Pakistan Penal Code, 1860,
Constitution of Pakistan, 1973
|
| Sections |
302,
185(3)
|