PCRLJ 1989

1989 P Cr (PLP)

GHULAM and another‑‑Appellants Versus THE STATE‑‑Respondent

Jurisdiction / Court
Lahore
Decided Date
Criminal Appeal No. 42 of 1982/BWP, heard on 19th February, 1989.
Honorable Judges
Muhammad Sharif, J
Case Reference Summary (AEO Optimized)
Citation 1989 P Cr (PLP)
Forum / Court Lahore
Bench Members Muhammad Sharif, J
Parties GHULAM and another‑‑Appellants Versus THE STATE‑‑Respondent
💡 Quick Legal QA & Summary / سوال و جواب خلاصہ
Q1: What are the key laws and sections cited in 1989 P Cr (PLP)?

This judgment primarily cites: statutory provisions as referenced in Pakistani case law index.

Q2: Which judicial bench decided the case 1989 P Cr (PLP)?

The case was heard and decided by the Lahore bench comprising: Muhammad Sharif, J.

Q3: What is the official citation format for this judgment on Pakistan Law Portal?

Cite this legal precedent as: 1989 P Cr (PLP) (GHULAM and another‑‑Appellants Versus THE STATE‑‑Respondent). Read the full summary and cross-referenced laws free on Pakistan Law Portal.

Representation

  • Haji Riazuddin Ahmad Khan for Appellants.
  • Date of hearing: 19th February, 1989

Headnotes / Summary

(a) Penal Code (XLV of 1860)‑ ‑‑‑S. 302/34‑‑Eve‑witnesses had given cogent and convincing account of incident and their testimonies had been corroborated by evidence of motive, medical evidence and recoveries of weapon of offence and blood‑stained clothes of accused‑‑Mother of deceased who was injured and was an eye‑witness, could hardly be disbelieved‑‑Defence plea put forth by one of accused being not believable, prosecution, held, had prove its case to the hilt. (b) Penal Code (XLV of 186(1)‑ ‑‑‑Ss. 3017, Exception 1 & 302/34‑‑Sentence‑‑Strong suspicion of illicit relation between both the deceased though could not be ruled out, yet accused had done a cruel act by getting rid of both the deceased by cutting their limbs and necks after firing at them with rifle‑‑Sentence awarded to accused by Court below being appropriate, interference was declined by High Court. Muhammad Nawaz and 4 others v. The State 1987 P Cr. L J 1597 and Bashir Ahmad and others v. The State P L D 1985 Lah. 158 ref. Ch. Muhammad Ashraf Akhtar for the State.

Judgment & Decree

6. He leas opined that the death of Mst. Fazeelat occurred as a result of the rupture of the left lung, stomach, liver and large arid small intestines. Injuries Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 were individually and collectively sufficient to cause death in the ordinary course of nature. He had also performed the autopsy on the dead body of Muhammad Yousaf, and had listed the following injuries on his dead body (1) An incised wound on the uppermost part of neck, size 12 c.m, x 9 c.m. x dividing the neck through and through. (2) An incised wound 5 c.m. x 3 c.m. x 1 c.m. on the front of left shoulder joint. (3) A lacerated wound of entrance with inverted margins on the front of upper part of chest at the right side. There was no burning and tatooing, Sire of wound 0.5 c.m. x 0.5 c.m. x going deep into the chest cavity and rupturing the right lung. (4) A lacerated wound of exit with inverted margins on the back of upper part of right side of chest. Size 1 c.m. x 1 c.m. x going deep into the chest cavity and communicating with injury No. 3. (5) An incised wound 32 c.m. x 10 c.m. x dividing the lumbar region through and through cutting the intestines and both the kidneys.

7. This Medical Expert has opined that injuries Nos. 1, 3, 4 and 5 were individually and collectively sufficient to cause death in the ordinary course of nature and injuries Nos. 3 and 4 were caused by a fire‑arm.

8. Mst. Fatima Bibi was medically examined by Dr. Muhammad Insha P.W.7, who had observed the following injuries on her person:‑ (1) An abrasion 2" x 1/8" and bruise at deltoid medial of the right hand upper limb. (2) One bruise 2"' x 1" at the back of the right scapula. (3) One bruise 2" x 1" at the back below the scapula of right side. All the injuries were found to be simple in nature.

9. Ali Akbar, who is the real brother of Muhammad Yousaf deceased, has narrated the incident, as stated in the F.I.R. He has, however, added that Mst. Fatima, their mother, had tried to intervene and she was injured by Muhammad Hussain with his hatchet. He has depicted the motive for the commission of this double murder as there was a strong suspicion that Muhammad Yousaf and Mst. Fazeelat were having guilty associations with each other. In his crossexamination, he has clarified that they, three brothers, were armed with hatchets and the house of Ghulam Muhammad was at a distance of four Acres from the watercourse. From the watercourse, he means the place where Muhammad Yousaf and his brothers were cutting the branches of the Sheesham trees. According to him, both the dead bodies were lying near the door of a thatched but belonging to Ghulam accused.

10. Muhammad Sharif, who is the Headman of Chak No. 336/H.R., P.W.2, has testified that he was present at a distance of one and half Acres when he heard the hue and cry and his nephew Asghar was also sitting with him. They ran towards the watercourse and saw Muhammad Yousaf being goaded by the appellants whereas Muhammad Younas and Muhammad Akbar P.Ws. were entreating the appellants to spare him and their mother was also following them. According to this witness, Ghulam Muhammad killed Muhammad Yousaf and Mst. Fazeelat with his rifle and Muhammad Hussain separated the heads of both the deceased from the trunk and the lower portions from under the umbilicus were cut and separated from the main body. He had identified the dead body of Mst. fazeelat at the time of autopsy. He is also a witness to the recovery of the Blood‑stained clothes of both the appellants. When subjected to the cross -examination, Mohammad Sharif., the Headman of the village, has stated that there is no regular Abadi and we villagers are residing in their own land and he could not see any other person raising hue and cry. It was suggested that Muhammad Sharif is the grandfather of Muhammad Yousaf and is an interested person. He is not the real grandfather of Muhammad Yousaf deceased but is related to him from their brotherhood. The statement of Muhammad Sharif cannot be disbelieved on that account because he is an owner of land adjoining to the land of the deceased.

11. Mst. Ghulam Fatima Bibi P.W.3, who was injured by Muhammad Hussain when she had tried to intervene, has corroborated the prosecution case in toto. She has also stated that her son Muhammad Yousaf was suspected of having illicit liaison with Mst. Fazeelat and, therefore, both of them were murdered. She has clarified in reply to a Court question that Ghulam Muhammad was standing at a distance of one Karam when he fired at Muhammad Yousaf.

12. Abdul Rashid P.W.4 is a witness of the recoveries and had also identified the dead body of Muhammad Yousaf at the time of autopsy. Tahir Mansoor S.I. P.W.10 has corroborated that he had correctly recorded the F.I.R. Exh. P.A., recovered the weapons of offence and the blood‑stained clothes of both the appellants.

13. In his statement recorded under section 342 of the Cr.P.C. Ghulam Muhammad appellant has explained as under‑‑ 'As a matter of fact, on the day of occurrence, at about evening time, I came from my fields. I was with a rifle P.6. When I entered my Dera. I found that under the Chapper, the deceased Yousaf and my daughter Mst. Fazeelat were in a compromising position. I lost self‑control and under grave and sudden provocation fired at them. Subsequently, I picked up the hatchet and separated the heads and legs of the two deceased. I had picked up this hatchet from sender the Chapper. Perhaps this was the hatchet which the deceased vas carrying. After these murders, I myself went to the police station and narrated the incident and produced the rifle. The police however, did not record my report and came to the place of occurrence and then in collusion with the complainant party got me and my co‑accused involved in the murder case. Muhammad Hussain was not with me at the time of occurrence."

14. Muhammad Hussain appellant, however, made a different statement and pleaded to be innocent.

15. The learned counsel for the appellants has contended that the F.I.R. was delayed and no plausible explanation of its delay had been furnished by the complainant. I do not countenance this argument because the police station is eleven miles away and Ali Akbar has explained that the motor‑bike by which they were travelling got out of order and, therefore, the delay in the lodging of the F.I.R. took place. It was pointed out on behalf of the appellants that, on account of grave and sudden provocation, Ghulam Muhammad was tempted to kill his own daughter and his paramour and he deserved the benefit of exception to section 300 of the P.P.C. and lesser punishment. He has cited Muhammad Nawaz and 4 others v. The State 1987 P Cr. L J 1597 and Bashir Ahmad and others v. The State P L D 1985 Lah. 158 in support of his stand. It has also been added that the plea of the accused even if not taken is inferable from the prosecution evidence.

16. This argument is devoid of force because Muhammad Yousaf deceased was goaded to his house by Ghulam Muhammad appellant on rifle point and Ali Akbar, Muhammad Sharif and Mst. Ghulam Fatima have giver, a cogent and convincing account of this incident. Mst. Ghulam Fatima is an injured witness and can hardly be disbelieved. There was a strong suspicion of illicit relations between both the deceased but the appellants had done a cruel act by getting rid of both the deceased and had cut their limbs and necks after firing at them with his rifle. The eye‑witness account has been corroborated by the evidence of motive, medical evidence and the recoveries of the weapons of offence and the blood stained clothes of the appellants.

17. The defence plea put forth by Ghulam Muhammad appellant is not believable as the incident took place at 5‑00 p.m. It was not expected of Ghulam f Muhammad to have his rifle when he had gone out from his house. He has admitted that Muhammad Yousaf deceased was having a hatchet with which he had cut the bodies of both the deceased. The possession of a hatchet by Muhammad Yousaf at the time of this incident reinforces the fact that he was taken from his land when he was cutting the branches of the Sheesham trees and was handling a hatchet. In case, Ghulam Muhammad appellant had used hatchet P.10 belonging to Muhammad Yousaf deceased, it should have been stained with blood but no stain of blood was found thereon. In this manner, the prosecution has proved its case to the hilt. The sentence awarded to both the appellants in appropriate as they had committed a double murder to vindicate the honour of the family. I, therefore, dismiss this appeal. I, however, extend the benefit of section 382‑B of the Cr.P.C. to both the appellants. The appellants were released on bail. They should be taken into custody and sent to jail to serve their terms of) sentence. H.B.T./G‑202/L Appeal dismissed.