Legal Case Summary

Case Details
Case ID 20ba7f28-9ef7-409f-93a8-df3437cc40cb
Body View case body.
Case Number Criminal Appeals Nos.294 and 295 of 1997, 406 and
Decision Date Jun 01, 2000
Hearing Date
Decision The Supreme Court upheld the convictions of the appellants Mehboob Sultan, Muhammad Ashraf, and Muhammad Basharat, maintaining the death sentence for Mehboob Sultan while commuting the death sentences of Muhammad Ashraf and Muhammad Basharat to life imprisonment on account of their old age and the minor age of Muhammad Basharat at the time of the incident. The Court found sufficient evidence corroborating the prosecution's case, including ballistic reports and eyewitness testimonies. The Court dismissed appeals against the convictions, confirming the trial court's decisions while addressing concerns regarding the credibility of witnesses and the implications of the accused's relationships with the victims. The acquittal of certain co-accused was also upheld based on the lack of evidence linking them to the crime.
Summary In the case of Mehboob Sultan and others vs. The State, the Supreme Court of Pakistan adjudicated on multiple criminal appeals related to a murder incident involving several accused persons. The case revolved around the murders of Muhammad Razzaq, Muhammad Riaz, and Muhammad Ayoub, who were witnesses in a prior murder trial. The prosecution presented eyewitness accounts and forensic evidence linking the accused to the crime scene. The Supreme Court emphasized the importance of the rule of consistency in sentencing and addressed the age and influence of certain accused on their sentencing. The Court highlighted the necessity of corroborative evidence and the credibility of eyewitness testimonies, ultimately affirming some convictions while mitigating sentences for others based on age and circumstances. The case underscores the complexities of legal proceedings in homicide cases and the critical role of evidence in securing convictions.
Court Supreme Court of Pakistan
Entities Involved
Judges SH. IJAZ NISAR, QAZI MUHAMMAD FAROOQ, ABDUL HAMEED DOGAR
Lawyers Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa, Ch. Akhtar Ali, Ch. Ghulam Ahmad, Rao Muhammad Yousaf Khan, Ch. Afrasiab Khan, Imtiaz Muhammad Khan, Kh. Sultan Ahmad
Petitioners Muhammad Ashraf, Muhammad Akram, Muhammad Bashir, MEHBOOB SULTAN, Muhammad Basharat
Respondents THE STATE
Citations 2001 SLD 703, 2001 SCMR 163
Other Citations Munawar Ali alias Munawar Hussain v. The State PLD 1993 SC 251, Israr v. The State 1994 SCMR 1082, Tariq Khan v. The State 1997 SCMR 254, Sheral alias Sher Muhammad v. The State 1999 SCMR 697
Laws Involved Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, Constitution of Pakistan, 1973
Sections 302, 307, 149, 185(3)