| Case ID |
22569d87-3a67-417e-bfd3-548139aa32b2 |
| Body |
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| Case Number |
Criminal Appeal No.345 of 1998 |
| Decision Date |
Sep 18, 2000 |
| Hearing Date |
|
| Decision |
The Supreme Court upheld the death sentence of the appellants, finding that despite the absence of a clear motive for the murder, the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The court emphasized that lack of motive does not mitigate the severity of the crime when the evidence against the accused is compelling. The brutal nature of the murder, with the deceased sustaining multiple injuries from both a firearm and a knife, supported the decision to maintain the death penalty. The court noted that the conviction was justified based on the reliability of the eye-witnesses and the evidence presented, dismissing the appeal. |
| Summary |
In the landmark case of Criminal Appeal No.345 of 1998, the Supreme Court of Pakistan addressed the legality of the death sentence imposed on the appellants, Nawaz Ali and another, for the murder of Faqeer Muhammad. The court examined the evidence presented, which included testimonies from multiple witnesses and medical reports detailing the brutal injuries inflicted upon the deceased. Despite the defense's argument regarding the lack of motive, the court reaffirmed that proof of motive is not a prerequisite for capital punishment in murder cases. The judgment highlighted the importance of reliable eyewitness accounts and the prosecution's burden to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt. This case reiterates the legal principles governing murder convictions and the imposition of the death penalty, making it a significant reference point in criminal law. Legal practitioners and scholars studying capital punishment and evidentiary standards will find this case particularly relevant in understanding the interplay between motive, evidence, and sentencing in serious criminal offenses. |
| Court |
Supreme Court of Pakistan
|
| Entities Involved |
Not available
|
| Judges |
RASHID AZIZ KHAN,
RANA BHAGWAN DAS,
DEEDAR HUSSAIN SHAH
|
| Lawyers |
Muhammad Javaid Aziz Sandhu, Advocate Supreme Court for Appellants,
Raja Abdul Ghafoor, Advocate Supreme Court for the State
|
| Petitioners |
another,
NAWAZ ALI
|
| Respondents |
THE STATE
|
| Citations |
2001 SLD 1381,
2001 SCMR 726
|
| Other Citations |
Ahmad Nisar v. The State 1977 SCMR 175,
Talib Hussain and others v. The State 1995 SCMR 1776
|
| Laws Involved |
Penal Code (XLV of 1860),
Constitution of Pakistan (1973)
|
| Sections |
302/34,
185(3)
|