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Petitioner: The State VS Respondent: Maheen Zafar and another
Court Name: Islamabad High Court Judge(s): Aamer Farooq Title: The State vs Maheen Zafar and another Case No.: Criminal Original No. 01 of 2017 Date of Judgment:2018-04-17 Reported As: PLJ 2018 Cr.C. 664, 2018 IHC 33 Result: N/A
Judgment AAMER FAROOQ, J. - Mst. Maheen Zafar and Raja Khurram Ali Khan are imputed in case F.I.R. No.483/2016, dated 29.12.2016, under Sections 342, 506, 328-A, 201, 337-A(i), 337-F(i), 34 P.P.C., Police Station Industrial Area, Islamabad. 2. The case of the prosecution against the above mentioned accused persons is that they employed Mst. Tayyaba Bibi, aged less than 10 years at the relevant time as a maid servant in the house and used to hit her because of which she sustained injuries and also at the relevant time closed her quarter and used to lock her in a store near water tank. 3. The above mentioned accused persons were charged with the aforementioned offences on 16.05.2017. For the sake of brevity , the charges against the accused persons are reproduced and are as follows:- "Firstly: That you accused persons wrongfully confined minor Tayyaba, in your House No.50, Street No.12, Sector I-8/1, Islamabad and she was recovered by the police, thus you both accused persons have committed an offence punishable u/s 342 P .P.C., which is triable by this Court. Secondly: That you Mst. Maheen Zafar accused within the area of House No.50, Street No.12, Sector I-8/1, Islamabad caused injuries (multiple small healed wounds on cheek and below angle of mandible (contact burn) to minor T ayyaba, thus you have committed an offence punishable u/s 337-A(i) P .P.C., which is triable by this Court. Thirdly: That you Mst. Maheen Zafar accused within the area of House No.50, Street No.12, Sector I-8/1, Islamabad caused injuries contact burn healed wounds on right arm, right wrist and right hand on left mid arm over deltoid area, dorsum of left index finger extended upto MP joint of left hand, left little finger and left lower arm, right thigh and right buttock to minor Tayyaba, thus you have committed an offence punishable u/s 337-F(i) P.P.C., which is triable by this Court. Fourthly:- That you Mst. Maheen Zafar accused within the area of House No.50, Street No.12, Sector I-8/I, Islamabad extended threats of dire consequences to minor Tayyaba not to disclose her maltreatment to anyone,
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thus you have committed an offence punishable u/s 506(ii) P .P.C., which is within the cognizance of this Court. Fifthly:- That you Mst. Maheen Zafar and Raja Khurram Ali Khan accused within the area of House No.50, Street No.12, Sector I-8/1, Islamabad willfully assaulted, ill-treated, neglected, abandoned, harmed and injured minor Tayyaba, who was under your care, thus you both have committed an offence punishable u/s 328-A P.P.C., which is within the cognizance of this Court. Sixthly:- That you Raja Khurram Ali Khan accused within the area of House No.50, Street No.12, Sector I-8/1, Islamabad caused disappearance of minor Tayyaba in order to screen your co-accused Mst. Maheen Zafar from the legal consequences, thus you have committed an offence punishable u/s 201 P.P.C., which is within the cognizance of this Court. AND I hereby direct that you be tried by this Court. 4. The prosecution in support of their case produced Tayyaba Bibi as PW-1, Maria Hayat as PW-2, Naila Khizar as PW-3, Ms. Humaira Haroon as PW-4, Dr. Muhammad Naseer as PW-5, Dr. Tariq Iqbal as PW 6, Ms. Nishaa Ishtiak as PW-7, Ghulam Hussain as PW-8, Muhammad Naseem as PW-9, Shakeel Ahmad as PW-10, Asghar Ali as PW- 11, Guldaraz Khan as PW-12, Muhammad Azam as PW-13, Azhar Hussain as PW-14, Gulzar Ahmed as PW-15 and Khalid Mehmood Awan as PW -16. The prosecution also tendered in evidence various documents and articles. 5. The accused tendered their statements under Section 342 Cr.P.C and also produced documentary evidence by way of various orders which were passed by Raja Khurram Ali Khan as Additional District and Sessions Judge. 6. Learned Advocate General for Islamab ad, inter-alia, contended that the prosecution has prove d its case beyond reasonable doubt. In this behalf, learned Advocate General took the Court through the evidence tendered by the prosecution. It was also contended that the statements of Mst. Tayyaba Bibi, PW-1, as well as PW-2, PW-3 and PW-4 establishes clearly that the accuse d persons used to beat up Mst. Tayyaba Bibi and/or abandoned her by failing to take care of her by providing food and proper clothing. It was further contended that the medical report fully corroborate the ocular account that Mst. Tayyaba Bibi received injuries which squarely falls under Sections 337-A (i) and 337-F (i) P.P.C. It was further submitted that the defence has failed to cast doubt on the case of the prosecution which is un-impeached and the accused persons are guilty of all the offences with which they have been charged. 7. Learned counsel for the accused, inter-alia, contended that the complaint on the basis of which F.I.R. was registered was not signed by Mst. Tayyaba Bibi, therefore, the F.I.R. registered has no sanctity under the law. Reliance was placed on cases reported as "Dr. Baber Yaqoob Sheikh Vs. Haris Hafeez and 02 others" (2014 YLR 2176), "Director General EPA Vs. Messrs Sultan Industries Sialkot" (2017 CLD 1117). It was also contended that during the course of evidence Mst. Tayyaba Bibi denied the contents of the F.I.R. thus it has lost its sanctity. Reliance was placed on cases reported as "The State Vs. Syed Aamir Shabbir" (2016 P Cr. L J 286), "Ghulam Rasool and 2 others Vs. The State" (1988 P Cr. L J 995). Learned counsel for the accused persons further contended that the prosecution has failed to prove its case. In this behalf, attention was drawn towards the cross-examination of Mst. Tayyaba Bibi, wherein, she said contrary to what she had deposed in examination in chief. It was contended that cross-examination is a more important part of statement of the witness. It was further contended that the statement of child witness is to be appraised with caution. Reliance was placed on cases reported as "Allah Ditta and others Vs. The State and others" (2017 PCrLJ 789), "Muhammad Feroze Vs. The State" (NLR 2003 Criminal 474) and "Panchhi & others Vs State of U.P." (AIR 1998 SC 2726) as well as "Mst. Saira Bibi Vs. Muhammad Asif and others" (2009 SCMR 946). It was further contended that one of the prosecution witnesses i.e. Ms. Humaria Haroon (PW-4) made improvement inasmuch as her statement in examination-in-chief contains substance which was not in the statement under Section 161 Cr.P.C., hence, the same is not to be relied upon. Reliance was placed on cases reported as "Noor Muhammad and others Vs. The State and others" (2017 P Cr. L J 479) and "Sarfraz Vs. The State" (2017 YLR Note 220). It was further argued that the witnesses appearing on behalf of the prosecution in support of the medical report i.e. PW-5 and PW-6, have categorically stated that the injuries can be either accidental or homicidal; that burn marks are old. In this behalf, it was contended that the medical evidence is only corroborates or supports the ocular account and cannot form the basis for conviction solely. Reliance was placed on cases reported as "Javed Iqbal and 2 others Vs. The State" (2014 YLR 529) and "Hashim
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Qasim and another Vs. The State" (2017 SCMR 986). It was further submitted that the alleged occurrence is unseen inasmuch as no witness has deposed that the accused persons caused injuries to Mst. Tayyaba Bibi. 8. Learned counsel for the accused persons further contended that the alleged articles recovered to substantiate that they were used to cause injuries to Mst. Tayyaba Bibi cannot be relied upon in evidence inasmuch as they are not sealed. It was contended that the case against the accused persons is based on malafide and ulterior motives at the behest of the person against whom Raja Khurram Ali Khan passed various orders / judgments while adjudicating matters as Additional District & Sessions Judge, Islamabad. Learned counsel took the Court through the referred documents which have been tendered in evidence as exhibits. It was further contended that any matter which cast doubt has to be resolved in favour of the accused. Reliance was placed on cases reported as "State Vs. Ali Asghar" (2017 P Cr. L J 349), "Saleh Muhammad and another Vs. The State and another" (2017 P Cr. L J 1391 ) and "Muhammad Akram Vs. The State" (2009 SCMR 230). It was also argued that the media hype has also been created because of various non-governmental organizations and their nexus, and had the same not been done the case would not have been registered. It was further contended that the alleged statement of Mst. Tayyaba Bibi was recorded before Pw-7 without any justification or basis, when she had no authority , nor was she the duty judge in the case. Similarly , it was contended that the photographs of Mst. Tayyaba Bibi which became viral on social media cannot be said to have been proved in accordance with law . 9. Arguments advanced by the parties have been heard and the evidence examined with their able assistance. 10. Before proceeding to decide the merits of the case, since great emphasis was laid on the fact that the complaint which culminated into F.I.R. was not signed by the complainant i.e. Mst. Tayyaba Bibi, therefore, the F.I.R. was not validly registered, hence, the merits of the said arguments be determined. Under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, every information relating to the commission of a cognizable offence if given orally to an officer in charge of a police station, shall be reduced to writing by him or under his direction, and be read over to the informant, and every such information, whether given in writing or reduced to writing as aforesaid shall be signed by the person giving it, and the substance thereof shall be entere d in a book to be kept by such officer. In the instant case Mst. Tayyaba Bibi after being recovered by the police was brought to the office of Chief Commissioner , I.C.T, Islamabad and made a statement before Ms. Nishaa Ishtiak (PW 7) who reduced the statement of Mst. Tayyaba Bibi and instead of taking her signature or thumb impression signed the same herself (Ex.PW- 7/A) on the basis of the referred statement/complaint the F.I.R. in question (F.I.R. No.483/2016, dated 29.12.2016)(EX-PW-14/B) was lodged. In this behalf, the complaint drafted by Shakeel Ahmed, ASI is PW-14/A. Learned counsel for the accused have placed reliance on case reported as "Dr. Baber Yaqoob Sheikh Vs. Haris Hafeez and 02 others" (2014 YLR 2176) to substantiate his arguments that if the complaint is not signed then it is defective. The referred case is not applicable in the facts and circumstances of the case inasmuch as in the same it was a complaint under Illegal Dispossession Act, 2005 and the Court was considering the essential requirements of a compliant under Section 200 Cr.P.C and it was observed that if it is not signed then the matter cannot be proceeded with. Likewise, the other judgment relied upon by the accused was "Director General EPA Vs. Messrs Sultan Industries Sialkot" (2017 CLD 1117). In the said case as well the Court was dealing with the complaint as envisaged under Punjab Environmental Protection Act, 1997. Likewise, another case relied upon by the accused i.e. "The State Vs. Syed Aamir Shabbir" (2016 P Cr. L J 286) is distinguishable in the facts and circumstances as in the same. Nature and scope of F.I.R. and the effect of not signing of the same has been elaborated in various pronouncements of our jurisdiction as well as from the jurisdiction across the border. In case reported as "Mst. Razia Sultana Vs. Deputy Inspector General of Police and others" (1999 P Cr. L J 694), the Hon'ble Lahore High Court observed that the F.I.R. recorded on complaint of minor daughter of owner of the house having not been cancelled, law could be set in motion according to version of complainant and affected family. Similarly, in the case reported as "Ghulam Abbas and 03 others Vs. The State and another" (1997 P Cr. L J 2091) the Hon'ble Lahore High Court observed that the F.I.R. was not an encyclopedia so as to include each and every detail of the incide nt reported therein. Similar view was expressed by the Hon'ble Division Bench of Baluchistan High Court in "Capt. Dr. Munir Ahmed Khan Vs. The State" (1997 P Cr. L J 348) and it was observed that it is not an essential that each and every detail must be incorporated in the F.I.R. which is a simpl e device to set the law in motion. Similar view was expressed in "Ghulam
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Abbas alias Mazhar Abbas Vs. The State" (1997 P Cr. L J 432), "Muhammad Ramzan Vs. The State" (1997 P Cr. L J 376). In "Muhammad Asif and others Vs. The State and others" the Shariat Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir in case reported as "2006 P Cr. L J 1191" observed that the mere defect in recording F.I.R. or even recording of F.I.R. after investigation, would not make the entire trial illegal as F.I.R. was not a substantive piece of evidence and even if an F.I.R. was recorded after commencing of formal investigation, it would not destroy the whole trial and it would not materially af fect main case of prosecution. 11. In Criminal Appeal Nos.1492 and 1587 of 1983 titled "Durab and others Vs. State of U.P." the High Court of Allahabad observed as follows:- "46. Moreover , mere absence of signature of the traumatised informant (whose brother was murdered before him) over written report (Ext. Ka-1) would not affect the sanctity of the written report as well as F.I.R. Section 154 Cr.P.C. provides that F.I.R. can be lodged orally as well. In this case, the scribe (P.W.-3) has proved on oath that he had prepared the written report (Ext. Ka-1) on the spot on the dictation of the informant and had written his name as a writer ." Likewise in Criminal Appeal No.266 of 1990 (J) titled "Rajoo Vs. State of M.P." the High Court of Madhya Pradesh observed as follows:- The real purpose of the F.I.R. is to set the criminal law in motion and to confront for the purpose of finding out any contradiction. We may refer with profit to the decision of the Apex Court in this regard. Hasib Vs. The State of Bihar MANU/SC/0180/1971 : AIR 1972 S.C. 283. Thus, merely the F.I.R. was not signed, is in itself no ground, to discard it. Non-obtaining of signature is a procedur al irregularity , but, it cannot over-turn prosecution. This proposition was specifically dealt with by the Division Bench of Calcutta High Court in the case of A.W. Khan Vs. The State MANU/WB/0139/1962 : AIR 1962 Cal. 641 in which Their Lordships in para 7 of the judgment has held that absence of signature to the First Information Report by the informant is not necessa ry to the extent that its absence will vitiate and nullify such report. If there is an information relating to the commission of a cognizable offence, it falls under Section 154 of Cr. P.C. and becomes admissible in evidence as such, even though the Police Officer may have neglected to record it in accor dance with law. Now, the admissibility of first information report depends not on the fact that it is signed by the person making it, but on the fact a first information report given in writing or taken down by a police officer would be a part of the official record as the substance of such information is to be entered in a book kept by the station officer in the form prescribed and that may attract the operation of the provisions of S.35 of the Indian Evidence Act. The condition as to its being reduced to writing and that it shall be signed by the person giving it seems to us to be mere matter of procedure and failure to observe the procedure as to signature would not make the information given, if it is reduced to writing, inadmissible." Finally , in Criminal Appeal No.324 of 1961 case titled "A.W . Khan Vs. The State" the High Court of Calcutta observed as follows:- "The second answer to Mr. Mitter 's argument is that absence of signature to the First Information Report by the informant is not necessary to the extent that its absence will vitiate and nullify such report. A Division Bench of Lort Williams and S.K. Ghose, JJ. in the case of Mani Mohon Ghose v. Emperor MANU/WB/0247/1931 : AIR 1931Cal745 lays down that:- "If an information 'relates to the commission of a cognizable offence'it is a first information admissible in evidence as such although the police officer may have neglected to record it in accordance with law ." At p. 628 (of Cal WN):(at p. 748 of AIR) of the report the learned Judge delivering the decision of the Division Bench observed: 'The conditions as to writing in Section 154 of the Code are merely procedural. If there is an 'information relating to the commission of a cognue able offence' it falls under Section 154 and becomes admissible in evidence as such, even though the police officer may have neglected to record it in accordance with law. Owing to this neglect in particular cases, the Courts have laid down from time to time that the information which starts the investigation is the real first information under Section 154 and should be treated in evidence as such. It does not depend on the sweet will of the police officer , who may or may not have recorded it. But the condition as to the character of the
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statements is really two-fold; first, it must be an information and, secondly , it must relate to a cognizable offence on the face of it and not merely in the light of subsequent events. It was never meant to be laid down that any sort of information would fall under Section 154, so long as it was the first in point of time." 12. In light of the above case law, it is clear that the nature of an F.I.R. is that it sets the law in motion upon which the investigation in a cognizable case commences. In case there is any procedural irregularity including not signing of the complaint that will not vitiate the criminal trial or tarnish the case of the prosecution in any way. Hence, the fact that the Tayyaba Bibi never signed the complaint made before Ms. Nishaa Ishtiak is not consequential and not fatal to the case of the prosecution. 13. Before appreciating the rival contention of learned counsels for the parties and appraisal of the evidence it is relevant to mention certain important facts and evidence. It is the case of the prosecution that Mst. Tayyaba Bibi was employed as maid servant at the house of Raja Khurram Ali Khan and Ms. Maheen Zafar and the police recovered the minor , aged less than 10 years, at the relevant time and took her in custody and after the initial medical examination brought her before Ms. Nishaa Ishtiak, Assistant Commissioner (PW-7), who after reducing the statement of the minor committed her to Child Protection Bureau. Minor was examined twice by the medical experts. Firstly , she was examined by Dr. Muhammad Naseer , PW-5, who examined her on 29.12.2016 at 11:16 A.M. The referred witness in his statement spelt out the nature of injuries recorded in the report on 30.12.2016, which was tendered in evidence as Ex,PW -5/A. The second medical examination was conducted by Medical Board which examined Mst. Tayyaba Bibi on 09.01.2017; the board consisted of Dr. Hameed-ud-Din, Dr. S.H. Waqar, Dr. Rizwan Taj and Dr. Maqbool Hussain. The Board examined the minor and the findings were recorded in the report which was tendered as Ex,PW -6/A and Ex,PW -6/B. During the course of investigation and in trial evidence was tendered by Maria Hayat, PW-2, who deposed that she saw the minor in destitute condition on 26.12.2016 out in the cold and gave her food and warm clothing. Similar statements were made by Naila Khizar , PW-3 and Ms. Humaira Haroon, PW-4. Minor Tayyaba Bibi appeared in witness box as PW-1 and stated that Ms. Maheen Zafar hit her and burned her hand and also provided the details of how the injuries were reflected. She corroborated the statements of PW-2 and PW-3 and submitted that Maria Hayat gave her food and provided blanket. However , in cross-examination she stated that she has not been hit by anyone. It is pertinent to observe that a note was made by the Court that in cross-examination the minor Tayyaba Bibi has answered all questions in affirmative. The prosecution also adduced evidence of Ms. Nishaa Ishtiak, who provided details of recording the statement of Mst. Tayyaba Bibi, however , in extensive and lengthy cross-examination the defence sought to question the authority under which Ms. Nishaa Ishtiak recorded the statement of Tayyaba Bibi and as to why she was brought before her. Formal witnesses i.e. police officials corroborated the case of the prosecution. In this behalf, Ghulam Hussain, PW- 8, produced the items Wiper and Dohi etc. which were not sealed. Muhammad Naseem, who remained with the investigation for a short while and Shakeel Ahmad appeared as PW-9 and PW-10 and deposed about initial investigation and how the child was recovered. PW-11, is the Moharar and deposed about the Mobile Phone which was sent to the Forensic Laboratory for recovering the photographs taken from the mobile phone of Maria Hayat. The Investigation Officer, Khalid Mehmood Awan, appeared as PW-16, who provided the details of the investigation and about various reports. He was re-called and re-examined by the prosecution and in the same, he tendered in evidence Rupt No.24, dated 28.12.2016 (Ex.PW -16/B ). The two important witnesses are Guldaraz Khan PW-12, who worked as a cook in the adjacent house and stated that he gave food, tea and medicine to Tayyaba Bibi and father of Tayyaba Bibi namely Muhammad Azam, PW-13, who was called by the prosecution, however , during the course of his examination-in-chief request was made to declare him hostile, which was accordingly done. The prosecution asked questions and he was also cross-examined by the defence. He admitted that he had sent Tayyaba Bibi for employment and Raja Khurram Ali Khan had given him sum of Rs.18,000/- as salary for six months. He also admitted that a compromise was effected between the accused persons and him. In cross- examination he stated that Mst. Tayyaba Bibi informed him that she has never been ill-treated. Accused tendered statements under Section 342 Cr. P. C. and some orders and other documents as mentioned above, in their defence.
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14. The first charge on the accused persons is that they wrongly confined Mst. Tayyaba Bibi and she was recovered by the police from the House No.50, Street No.12, Sector I-8/1, Islamabad, therefore, they have committed an offence under Section 342 P.P.C. Admittedly , Mst. Tayyaba Bibi was working as a maid servant at the residence of Raja Khurram Ali Khan and Ms. Maheen Zafar, however, the prosecution has not produced any evidence which goes on to show that she was wrongly confined at the aforementioned residence of the said person. The sole evidence tendered by the prosecution in this behalf is the statement of Kahlid Mehmood Awan, SHO, PW-16, who stated that he was informed that a child namely Tayyaba Bibi was working at the residence of Raja Khurram Ali Khan and has been tortured, therefore, he visited the House No.50, Street No.12, Sector I-8/1, Islamabad and contacted the accused by phone and thereupon the custody of Tayyaba Bibi was handed over to him, whereupon, she was taken to PIMS Hospital. Even, the statement of the minor i.e. examination-in-chief, does not divulge anything to the effect which goes to establish wrong confinement. Even though, she stated in her examination-in-chief that when she got injured then they (accused persons) had hidden her, however, the fact that she was recovered without any resistance and as she was handed over to PW-16 shows that there was wrongful confinement as nothing was stated in specific by the Investigation Officer. In view of the referred evidence the prosecution has failed to prove the referred charge against the accused persons. 15. Ms. Maheen Zafar has been charged with causing injuries which are multiple in nature i.e. small healed wounds on cheek as well as contact burn under Section 337-A(i) P.P.C. Likewise, the referred accused was also charged with causing multiple injuries by way contact burn wounds on right arm, right wrist and right hand on left mid arm over deltoid area, dorsum of left index finger extended upto MP joint of left hand, left little finger and left lower arm, right thigh and right buttock under Section 337-F(i) P.P.C. Admittedly, there is no ocular account of causing injuries by Ms. Maheen Zafar to Mst. Tayyaba Bibi, however, the victim Mst. Tayyaba Bibi in her examination-in- chief specifically stated that she worked for a period of two to three months at the residence of Ms. Maheen Zafar and that she used to hit her and burned her hand as well as back and also her with the Dohi. It was also stated by Mst.…
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