Legal Case Summary

Case Details
Case ID 1fd9b172-ded5-405f-8d51-3bce6300b2fd
Body View case body.
Case Number Criminal Petition No.528-L of 2006
Decision Date Jan 08, 2007
Hearing Date
Decision The Supreme Court of Pakistan granted leave to appeal to the petitioners, Noor Muhammad and Haq Nawaz, on the grounds that the conviction could not be maintained based on the same set of evidence that led to the acquittal of three co-accused. The court found that the case against the petitioners was not free from doubt, as there was no direct connection to the motive of the prosecution, and the evidence did not link them to the crime. The decision emphasized the importance of credible evidence in criminal proceedings, especially regarding the burden of proof and the presumption of innocence that applies until proven guilty.
Summary In the case of Noor Muhammad and Haq Nawaz vs. The State, the Supreme Court of Pakistan dealt with issues of wrongful conviction and the standards of evidence required in criminal cases. The petitioners were initially convicted of murder, alongside three other co-accused, but challenged their conviction based on the acquittal of the others and the lack of direct evidence linking them to the crime. The court critically analyzed the prosecution's case, focusing on the discrepancies in the evidence and the absence of a clear motive connecting the petitioners to the alleged murder. The judgment highlighted the necessity for the prosecution to establish a strong, unambiguous case against the accused, reinforcing the legal principle that doubts benefit the accused. This case serves as a significant reference point for future cases concerning the evidentiary standards in criminal law, particularly in murder cases, and underscores the judiciary's role in safeguarding the rights of individuals against unjust convictions.
Court Supreme Court of Pakistan
Entities Involved Not available
Judges TASSADUQ HUSSAIN JILLANI, SYED JAMSHED ALI
Lawyers M.A. Zafar, Pervaiz Alamgir
Petitioners NOOR MUHAMMAD, Haq Nawaz
Respondents THE STATE
Citations 2008 SLD 1440, 2008 SCMR 69
Other Citations Not available
Laws Involved Penal Code (XLV of 1860), Constitution of Pakistan (1973)
Sections 302(b)/34, Art.185(3)