| Case ID |
3baa71fd-49c9-442d-a2e4-afb7b5eca919 |
| Body |
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| Case Number |
Crl. Appeal No. 300-L of 2009 |
| Decision Date |
May 11, 2017 |
| Hearing Date |
May 11, 2017 |
| Decision |
The Supreme Court of Pakistan dismissed the appeal filed by Muhammad Ashraf against the Lahore High Court's judgment, which had already reduced his death sentence to life imprisonment due to his tender age. The court found the prosecution's case to be fully proved beyond any reasonable doubt, supported by ocular evidence and medical testimony. The court noted that the appellant had previously been convicted for the murder of Javed Nawaz and for the assault on Shah Nawaz, with sufficient evidence including the recovery of a weapon and forensic analysis. Ultimately, the appeal was found to lack merit and was dismissed. |
| Summary |
The case involves Muhammad Ashraf, who was convicted of murder and attempted murder under the Pakistan Penal Code. The Supreme Court reviewed the evidence presented, including eyewitness accounts and forensic reports, leading to the conclusion that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court acknowledged the prior leniency shown by the Lahore High Court regarding the sentence due to the appellant's age. Following a comprehensive evaluation of the legal arguments and evidence, the court upheld the lower court's decision to convert the death sentence into life imprisonment. This judgment emphasizes the importance of reliable evidence in criminal proceedings and the judicial system's approach to juvenile offenders. Key legal principles such as the burden of proof and the standards of evidence were critically examined, making this case significant in understanding the application of the Pakistan Penal Code. The case also highlights the role of legal representation in criminal appeals and the judicial process's responsiveness to mitigating factors like age in sentencing. Keywords such as 'criminal appeal', 'Pakistan Penal Code', 'murder conviction', and 'Supreme Court of Pakistan' are integral to the discussion surrounding this case, reflecting ongoing legal themes and public interest in criminal justice reform. |
| Court |
Supreme Court of Pakistan
|
| Entities Involved |
Not available
|
| Judges |
MANZOOR AHMAD MALIK,
SARDAR TARIQ MASOOD
|
| Lawyers |
Sardar Khurram Latif Khan Khosa,
Sh. Khizar Hayat,
Imtiaz A. Shaukat,
Mazhar Sher Awan
|
| Petitioners |
Muhammad Ashraf
|
| Respondents |
SHAH NAWAZ AND ANOTHER
|
| Citations |
2017 SLD 67 = 2017 SCMR 1732
|
| Other Citations |
Not available
|
| Laws Involved |
Pakistan Penal Code, 1860
|
| Sections |
302(b),
324,
337-F(iii)
|