2023 PLP 2109 (SCMR)
The STATE through Advocate General, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar — Petitioner Versus SAADAT KHAN and another — Respondents
| Citation | 2023 PLP 2109 (SCMR) |
| Forum / Court | Supreme Court of Pakistan |
| Bench Members | Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Ayesha A. Malik and Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, JJ |
| Parties | The STATE through Advocate General, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar — Petitioner Versus SAADAT KHAN and another — Respondents |
| Primary Law | Penal Code (XLV of 1860) |
Q1: What are the key laws and sections cited in 2023 PLP 2109 (SCMR)?
This judgment primarily cites: Penal Code (XLV of 1860) as referenced in Pakistani case law index.
Q2: Which judicial bench decided the case 2023 PLP 2109 (SCMR)?
The case was heard and decided by the Supreme Court of Pakistan bench comprising: Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Ayesha A. Malik and Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, JJ.
Q3: What is the official citation format for this judgment on Pakistan Law Portal?
Cite this legal precedent as: 2023 PLP 2109 (SCMR) (The STATE through Advocate General, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar — Petitioner Versus SAADAT KHAN and another — Respondents). Read the full summary and cross-referenced laws free on Pakistan Law Portal.
Laws Cited
Representation
- Altaf Khan, Additional Advocate General, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Petitioner.
- Nemo for Respondents.
- The STATE through Advocate General, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar---Petitioner
- 5. Learned Additional Advocate General, KPK, appearing on behalf of the State, contends that the impugned judgment is not strictly in accordance with the dispensation of criminal justice; the High Court while allowing criminal appeal has reached to a wrong conclusion; that the respondent was not a man of sound mind; that the findings of the High Court are based on conjectures and surmises, which are the result of mis-appreciation of evidence, thus the impugned judgment is liable to be set aside and the decision of the trial Court should be maintained.
Headnotes / Summary
(Against the judgment dated 21.03.2012 of the Peshawar High Court, Mingora Bench (Dar-u1-Qaza), Swat)
S. 295-B
Defiling of Holy Quran
Petition for leave to appeal challenging acquittal of accused, dismissal of
Possibility of false implication
Record shows that there are material contradictions in the statements of the complainant as well as the prosecution witnesses
Apparently, the accused/respondent is uncle of the complainant and a witness is a friend of the complainant, and there was a land dispute between the parties
Two independent witnesses have been abandoned, thus an adverse inference has to be drawn against the prosecution
Torn pieces and damaged book (Holy Quran) which were taken by the complainant from the scene of occurrence to the mosque, as narrated in the FIR, were neither produced during the investigation nor 'moulvi' who took the torn pieces of Holy Quran, appeared as a witness
Accused/ respondent was found to be an abnormal person by the Investigating Officer at the time of his arrest and was referred for medical examination but the same had not been taken into its logical conclusion
However, the accused/respondent produced a certificate regarding the fact that he was an abnormal person at the time of incident which fact was not objected to by the prosecution
Prosecution has failed to prove its case against the accused/respondent through sound, cogent and confidence inspiring evidence
Petition challenging acquittal of accused was dismissed and leave was declined.
Judgment & Decree
SYED HASAN AZHAR RIZVI, J.
Through this petition filed under Article 185(3) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, the petitioner/State has challenged the judgment dated 21.03.2012 passed by the Peshawar High Court, Mingora Bench (Dar-ul-Qaza), Swat (High Court) whereby Criminal Appeal filed by the respondent, Saadat Khan, was allowed; judgment dated 22.12.2009 passed by the Additional Sessions Judge/Izzafi Zila Qazi, Dir at Timargara (trial Court) was set aside and the respondent was acquitted of the charge.
2. Succinctly, facts of the case leading to filing of instant lis are: the complainant, namely, Zahir Ali, lodged a report on 03.09.2007 at 20:00 hours that he, after offering zohar prayer, while present outside the mosque heard noise from the house of the respondent and saw him beating his family members. The complainant, however, affected separation. In the meantime, the respondent went inside his house and came out while holding Holy Quran in his hand and thrown the same by force on the floor. The complainant took the Holy Quran in torn condition to the mosque which (incident) was witnessed by Najam-ud-Din, Amin Ullah and Gulzeb. The incident was reported by the complainant, thus FIR No.249 was registered at Police Station Khall, District Dir under section 295-B, P.P.C. and the respondent was, accordingly arrested.
3. After completion of the investigation, challan was submitted before the Court. The respondent was charged with the allegation to which he pleaded not guilty. After recording of evidence and hearing the learned counsel for the parties, the respondent was convicted under section 295-B, P.P.C. and sentenced to imprisonment for life by the trial Court vide judgment dated 22.12.2009.
4. Being aggrieved with the above decision, the respondent approached the High Court by filing a criminal appeal which was allowed through the impugned judgment, as mentioned above, hence this petition.
5. Learned Additional Advocate General, KPK, appearing on behalf of the State, contends that the impugned judgment is not strictly in accordance with the dispensation of criminal justice; the High Court while allowing criminal appeal has reached to a wrong conclusion; that the respondent was not a man of sound mind; that the findings of the High Court are based on conjectures and surmises, which are the result of mis-appreciation of evidence, thus the impugned judgment is liable to be set aside and the decision of the trial Court should be maintained.
6. Heard the learned Law Officer at some length and scanned the material available on record with his able assistance.
7. It transpires from the record that there are material contradictions in the statements of the complainant as well as the prosecution witnesses. Apparently, the respondent is uncle of the complainant (PW-1) and Gulzeb (PW-2) is a friend of the complainant and there was a land dispute in between the parties. Two independent witnesses, namely Najam-ud-Din and Amin Ullah, have been abandoned, thus an adverse inference has to be drawn against the prosecution. The torn pieces and damaged book (Holy Quran) which were taken by the complainant from the scene of occurrence to the mosque, as narrated in the FIR, were neither produced during the investigation nor moulvi who took the torn pieces of Holy Quran, appeared as a witness. We find that the respondent was found to be an abnormal person by the Investigating Officer at the time of his arrest and was referred for the medical examination but the same had not been taken into its logical conclusion. However, the respondent produced a certificate regarding the fact that he was an abnormal person at the time of incident which fact was not objected to by the prosecution. The allegations levelled by the complainant against the respondent are of highly sensitive nature and the prosecution has failed to prove its case against the respondent through sound, cogent and confidence inspiring evidence. Neither any infirmity or illegality nor any misreading and non-reading has been noticed from the available record. Learned counsel for the petitioner has not been able to make out a case for the interference.
8. For what has been discussed above, this petition lacking merit is dismissed. Leave is declined. MWA/S-34/SC Petition dismissed.