| Case ID |
31ceb113-a019-4d62-bae5-72da91aa0fb5 |
| Body |
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| Case Number |
Criminal Appeal No. 168-J and Murder Reference No. |
| Decision Date |
Apr 22, 2013 |
| Hearing Date |
Apr 22, 2013 |
| Decision |
The Lahore High Court acquitted Zafar Iqbal alias Zafri and Abdul Sattar alias Laddi of the murder charges against them. The court found that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Key points included the inordinate delay in filing the FIR, inconsistencies in witness testimonies, and lack of corroborative evidence linking the appellants to the crime. The court emphasized the principle that any reasonable doubt must benefit the accused, leading to the decision to set aside the conviction and release the appellants. |
| Summary |
In the case of Zafar Iqbal alias Zafri and Abdul Sattar alias Laddi, the Lahore High Court reviewed the conviction related to the murder of two individuals, Abdul Shakoor and Mst. Nazia Bibi. The court critically analyzed the prosecution's evidence, focusing on the delay in reporting the crime, the reliability of eyewitness accounts, and the lack of physical evidence. The court highlighted that the FIR was filed three months after the incident, raising significant doubts about the credibility of the prosecution's claims. The defense successfully argued that the evidence presented was insufficient to establish the guilt of the appellants beyond a reasonable doubt. The court's decision reinforces the legal principle that the burden of proof lies with the prosecution, and any reasonable doubt must be resolved in favor of the accused. This case underscores the importance of timely and credible evidence in criminal proceedings, contributing to the ongoing discourse on the rights of the accused in the Pakistani legal system. Keywords: Lahore High Court, acquittal, murder case, reasonable doubt, prosecution failure, legal principles, criminal law. |
| Court |
Lahore High Court
|
| Entities Involved |
State of Pakistan
|
| Judges |
MANZOOR AHMAD MALIK,
MALIK SHAHZAD AHMAD KHAN
|
| Lawyers |
Akhtar Hussain Bhatti,
Haider Rasool Mirza,
Shahid Tabassam
|
| Petitioners |
ZAFAR IQBAL alias ZAFRI,
ABDUL SATTER alias LADDI
|
| Respondents |
The STATE
|
| Citations |
2015 SLD 473,
2015 PCRLJ 285
|
| Other Citations |
Ayub Masih v. The State PLD 2002 SC 1048
|
| Laws Involved |
Pakistan Penal Code, 1860,
Criminal Procedure Code (V of 1898)
|
| Sections |
302(b),
34,
342
|