| Case ID |
f8ae1f63-2760-41dc-b4da-c19fc5cbbaeb |
| Body |
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| Case Number |
Criminal Appeal No. 12 of 1985 |
| Decision Date |
May 20, 1985 |
| Hearing Date |
|
| Decision |
The Supreme Court of Pakistan dismissed the appeal of Saeed Ahmad alias Saeed Akbar against his conviction and sentence of life imprisonment plus a fine for the murder of his wife. The court ruled that the First Information Report (F.I.R.) could not be treated as substantive evidence for conviction, but circumstantial evidence including the recovery of the dead body, blood-stained clothes, and the weapon used in the crime were sufficient to uphold the conviction. The court emphasized that circumstantial evidence must be consistent with the hypothesis of guilt and inconsistent with any reasonable hypothesis of innocence. |
| Summary |
In the case of Saeed Ahmad alias Saeed Akbar vs. The State, the Supreme Court of Pakistan addressed critical legal principles regarding the evidentiary value of First Information Reports (F.I.R.s) and circumstantial evidence in criminal prosecutions. The appellant was convicted of the murder of his wife, with the evidence including the recovery of the victim's body and blood-stained items linked to the accused. The court clarified that while an F.I.R. cannot serve as substantive evidence for a conviction, it plays a crucial role in initiating investigations and establishing the framework for the case. The ruling reinforced the importance of circumstantial evidence, stating that it must collectively exclude all reasonable hypotheses of innocence to support a conviction. The decision contributes to the legal discourse on the standards of evidence required in criminal cases, particularly in contexts where direct evidence may be lacking, and highlights the procedural safeguards necessary to ensure justice. This case serves as a significant reference point for legal practitioners and scholars focusing on criminal law and the application of evidentiary standards in Pakistan. |
| Court |
Supreme Court of Pakistan
|
| Entities Involved |
Not available
|
| Judges |
MUHAMMAD AFZAL ZULLAH,
ZAFFAR HUSSAIN MIRZA,
M.S.H. QURAISHI,
MIAN BURHANUDDIN KHAN
|
| Lawyers |
Not available
|
| Petitioners |
SAEED AHMAD alias SAEED AKBAR
|
| Respondents |
THE STATE
|
| Citations |
1985 SLD 806,
1985 SCMR 1455
|
| Other Citations |
Mazharul Haq v. Ishaque Sardar P L D 1962 S C 480,
Sohni v. Bahaduri P L D 1965 S C 111,
Talib Hussain v. Fazal Hussain P L D 1976 S C 518,
Muhammad Sadiq v. State P L D 1977 S C 582,
Adalat v. Crown P L D 1956 F C 171,
Nisar Ahmad v. State 1971 S C M R 398,
Siraj Din v. Kala P L D 1964 S C 26,
Lejzor Teper v. The Queen P L D 1952 P C 119,
Allah Ditta v. The State P L D 1958 S C 290,
Sairan v. State P L D 1970 S C 56
|
| Laws Involved |
Constitution of Pakistan (1973),
Penal Code (XLV of 1860),
Criminal Procedure Code (V of 1898),
Evidence Act (1872)
|
| Sections |
185(3),
302,
154,
145,
157
|