| Case ID |
3b7536e6-0bc0-4dd0-bd5e-3e942749ef30 |
| Body |
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| Case Number |
Jail Petition No. 123/2016 |
| Decision Date |
May 30, 2022 |
| Hearing Date |
May 30, 2022 |
| Decision |
The Supreme Court of Pakistan allowed the appeal of the appellant, acquitting him of the charges against him. The court found that there was a significant delay in lodging the FIR, which was not adequately explained, and the conduct of the prosecution witnesses raised serious doubts about their credibility. The prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt, leading to the conclusion that the appellant was entitled to the benefit of the doubt. Consequently, the previous judgment was set aside, and the appellant was released from jail unless detained in connection with any other case. |
| Summary |
In the case of Jail Petition No. 123/2016, the Supreme Court of Pakistan addressed serious concerns regarding the reliability of the prosecution's evidence. The court scrutinized the delay of eleven days in filing the FIR, which was deemed a significant lapse in the prosecution's case. The witnesses' testimonies were found to be inconsistent, leading to a lack of trust in their credibility. The court reiterated the principle that any reasonable doubt must be resolved in favor of the accused. The decision highlights the importance of timely action in lodging FIRs and the implications of witness reliability in criminal cases. The ruling underscores the legal principle that an accused is entitled to the benefit of doubt, a critical aspect of the justice system that protects individuals from wrongful convictions. This case serves as a precedent for future cases where the integrity of witness testimonies is in question. Keywords such as 'criminal appeal', 'Supreme Court of Pakistan', 'FIR delay', 'benefit of doubt', and 'witness credibility' are crucial for understanding the implications of the ruling and its relevance in legal discourse. |
| Court |
Supreme Court of Pakistan
|
| Entities Involved |
|
| Judges |
IJAZ UL AHSAN,
MUNIB AKHTAR,
SAYYED MAZAHAR ALI AKBAR NAQVI,
ABDUL GHAFOOR
|
| Lawyers |
Nemo for Appellant,
Ahmed Raza Gillani, Additional P.G. for the State
|
| Petitioners |
|
| Respondents |
The STATE
|
| Citations |
2022 SLD 1197,
2022 SCMR 1527
|
| Other Citations |
Mehmood Ahmad v. The State 1995 SCMR 127
|
| Laws Involved |
Penal Code (XLV of 1860),
Criminal Procedure Code (V of 1898)
|
| Sections |
302(b),
337-F(ii),
154
|