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Official Citation: 2025 LHC 3719
Court / Jurisdiction: Lahore High Court
Year of Decision: 2025
Decision Date: 2025-06-02
Parties: Karamat Ali, The State vs The State, etc, Karamat Ali
Ruling Summary: This decision was rendered by the Lahore High Court on 2025-06-02, officially reported as 2025 LHC 3719. In this matter between Karamat Ali, The State and The State, etc, Karamat Ali, the court adjudicated key questions of statutory construction, procedural regularity, and legal precedent under Pakistani law.
Core Holding: The honorable bench evaluated governing statutory provisions and judicial authorities to establish the rights of the parties, delivering the binding reasoning set out below.
Case cited as 2025LHC3719
Court Name: Lahore High Court Judge(s): Farooq Haider, Ali Zia Bajwa Title: Karamat Ali, The State vs The State, etc, Karamat Ali Case No.: Criminal Appeal No.5394/2022, Murder Reference No.12/2022 Date of Judgment:2025-06-02 Reported As: 2025 LHC 3719 Result: Appeal Allowed
JUDGMENT
JUDGMENT FAROOQ HAIDER, J.:- This single judgment will dispose of Crl. Appeal No.5394/2022 filed by Karamat Ali (appellant) against his "convictions & sentences" and Murder Reference No.12/2022 sent by trial court, as both the matters have arisen out of one and the same judgment dated: 15.01.2022 passed by learned Addl. Sessions Judge, Nankana Sahib/trial court. 2. Karamat Ali (appellant) along with his co-accused namely Abdul Hameed was tried in case arising out of F.I.R. No.734/2020 dated: 31.08.2020 registered under Sections: 302, 324, 34 PPC {offences under Sections: 337 A (i), 337 F(i), 337 F(ii) PPC were added subsequently) at Police Station: Mangtanwala, District Nankana Sahib; trial court after conclusion of the trial vide impugned judgment dated:15.01.2022 while acquitting Abdul Hameed (aforementioned co-accused) has convicted and sentenced the appellant as under: - Convictions Sentences
Under Section:"Death" as Taz'ir (for committing Qatl-e-Amd of Fozia Bibi) with payment of compensation Rs.5,00,000/- to the legal heirs of the deceased under Section: 544-A Cr.P.C. recoverable as arrears of land revenue and in default of payment of compensation amount to further undergo S.I. for six months.302(b) PPC Under Section:"Seven Years' Rigorous Imprisonment" with fine of Rs.50,000/- and in default thereof to further undergo
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S.I. for three months. 324 PPC Under Section:"One Year" imprisonment with payment of "Daman" amounting to Rs.20,000/- to be paid to Liaqat Ali (injured).337 A(i) PPC Under Section:"One Year" imprisonment with payment of "Daman" amounting to Rs.20,000/- to be paid to Liaqat Ali (injured).337 F(i) PPC Under Section:"Two Years" imprisonment as Taz'ir with payment of "Daman" amounting to Rs.30,000/- to be paid to Liaqat Ali (injured).337 F(ii) PPC
3. Brief facts, as per application (Ex.PB) moved by Muhammad Amin (complainant/PW-3) to Sarfraz Ahmad, 225/HC of Police Station: Mangtanwala, District Nanakana Sahib (PW-2) on 31.08.2020 for registration of the case are that he is resident of Maliwal and does the work of sale of "Fish"; on 31.08.2020, wife of Muhammad Amin (complainant/ PW-3) was going to the tube-well of Niamat Bhatti for washing the clothes, when she reached near Government Primary School for Boys Maliwal, Karamat Ali and Abdul Hameed along with one unknown in furtherance of their common intention launched attack upon wife of the complainant; on hearing hue and cry, complainant along with Liaqat Ali, Allah Rakha and Allah Ditta residents of Maliwal reached near Government Primary School for Boys, Maliwal; Karamat Ali inflicted successive blows of knife at different parts of the body of wife of the complainant, due to which she fell in paddy crop in severe injured condition; Liaqat Ali attempted to catch the accused but Karamat Ali also injured Liaqat Ali with knife blows and fled away from the spot along with his companions; complainant made call at 1122, upon which Rescue Staff got boarded Fozia Bibi and Liaqat Ali in severe injured condition on the vehicle and proceeded for DHQ Nankana; wife of the complainant succumbed to the injuries on the way whereas Liaqat Ali was referred from DHQ Hospital Nankana Sahib to Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. Motive behind the occurrence was that earlier the complainant got lodged FIR No.321/2020 under Sections: 376, 396-A PPC at Police Station: Mangtanwala against Karamat Ali but compromise was arrived at between them subsequently; Karamat Ali nourished grudge and committed murder of wife of the complainant along with his companions. On the basis of application (Ex.PB), F.I.R. (Ex.PA) was chalked out by Sarfraz Ahmad, 225/HC (PW-2). 4. After completion of investigation, challan report under Section: 173 Cr.P.C. was submitted in the Court against the appellant by placing his name in column No.3 of the same; appellant was formally charge sheeted, however, he pleaded not guilty and claimed trial whereupon prosecution evidence was summoned; after recording of prosecution evidence, appellant was examined under Section: 342 Cr.P.C. but he refuted the allegations levelled against him; he opted not to appear as his own witness under Section: 340(2) Cr.P.C., however, produced some documents in his defence; then trial court after hearing learned counsel for the parties, passed the impugned judgment, whereby appellant was convicted and sentenced as mentioned above. 5. Learned counsel for the appellant has submitted that convictions recorded against and sentences awarded to the appellant through impugned judgment are against the 'law and facts' and result of non-reading/ misreading of evidence, therefore, same are not sustainable in the eyes of law. Learned counsel for the appellant finally prayed for acquittal of the appellant. 6. Conversely, learned Additional Prosecutor General and learned counsel for the complainant have supported the impugned judgment and prayed for dismissal of the appeal. 7. Arguments heard. Record perused.
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8. It has been noticed that as per case of prosecution, occurrence in this case took place on 31.08.2020 at 10:30 a.m. near Government Primary School for Boys Maliwal situated within the area of Maliwal at a distance of 13-Kilometers from the Police Station as per Column No.4 of the First Information Report (FIR/Ex.PA) whereas matter was reported to the Police by Muhammad Amin (complainant/PW-3) through written application (Ex.PB) in the Police Station at 05:40 p.m. on 31.08.2020 and on the basis of same, vide Rapt No.36, First Information Report (Ex.PA) was recorded at 05:40 p.m. at the Police Station, so there is delay of seven hours and ten minutes in reporting the matter to the police by the complainant through aforementioned application (Ex.PB). As per application for registration of the case (Ex.PB), after the occurrence, immediately call was made at 1122, Rescue Staff reached at the spot, Fozia Bibi (wife of the complainant/now deceased of the case) and Liaqat Ali in injured condition were boarded on the vehicle and proceeded for DHQ Hospital, Nankana; Fozia Bibi (wife of the complainant) succumbed to the injuries on the way whereas Liaqat Ali was referred from DHQ Hospital, Nankana to Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, however, it is relevant to mention here that any document to show that though Fozia Bibi succumbed to the injuries on the way to the hospital yet she was taken to DHQ Hospital, Nankana Sahib where after examination, she was declared as dead by any Medical Officer, rather in the Inquest Report (Ex.PH), it is categorically mentioned in Columns No.1 and 2 of said report, which are meant for recording that where she died or her dead body was available and distance of the place where she died or her dead body was found from the Police Station, "within the area of Maliwal" and Columns No.1 and 2 of the Inquest Report are hereby scanned below:- which reflects that she was never taken to DHQ Hospital, Nankana or any other hospital rather she died within the area of Maliwal and her dead body was even available in the area of Maliwal at a distance of 13-Kilometers from the Police Station. It goes without saying that as per Column No.4 of the FIR (Ex.PA), distance between the place of occurrence and the Police Station is 13 Kilometers within the area of Maliwal and when it is read with Column No.2 of the Inquest Report wherein it is mentioned that distance of the place where she died or her dead body was available is 13- Kilometers from the Police Station in the area of Maliwal, then it leads to the irresistible conclusion that her dead body was available at the place of occurrence. Furthermore, in Column No.2 of the Inquest Report (Ex.PH), it has not been mentioned that her dead body was available on the way to the hospital or in any hospital. Needless to add that it has been mentioned in the Inquest Report (Ex.PH) by Muhammad Yaqoob, S.I./Investigating Officer of the case (PW-9) that after registration of the case, he inspected the spot, examined the dead body, prepared relevant forms and while preparing application for postmortem examination, sent the same to DHQ Hospital, Nankana Sahib for postmortem examination of the deceased and relevant portion of Inquest Report (Ex.PH) from Page No.173 of the Paper Book is hereby scanned below:- It is also relevant to mention here that as per Medicolegal Examination Certificate of Liaqat (injured witness/PW-4) i.e. Ex.PN and Ex.PN/1, he was brought in the hospital by Police on 31.08.2020 at 03:10 p.m. and relevant portion of the statement of Dr. Ghulam Farid (PW-7) is hereby reproduced as under:- "On 31.08.2020 I was posted at DHQ Hospital Nankana Sahib and on the same day at about 03:10 PM Liaqat injured was produced before me with the history of being beaten up by one person carrying chaqu on 31.08.2020 between 12:00/01:00Pm at Maliwala PS Mangtanwala. The injured was clad in pink colour Shawlar Qameez and white vest. Clothes were torn and stained with mud and blood and corresponding holes were present. Injured was well built and well orientated and fully conscious with 15/15 level. I attended injured Liaqat s/o Aslam brought by police." (emphasis added) So if Liaqat Ali was taken to hospital by the Police and name of Muhammad Yaqoob, S.I.(PW-9) is mentioned in Medicolegal Examination Certificate (Ex.PN/Ex.PN/1), then it is crystal clear that Police
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was having knowledge about the occurrence at least prior to 03:10 p.m. but why First Information Report (Ex.PA) was not recorded till 03:10 p.m., has not been clarified by the prosecution. Perusal of Medicolegal Examination Certificate (Ex.PN/ Ex.PN/1) of Liaqat Ali further reveals that in the Medicolegal Examination Certificate, date of Police Docket: Rapt No.14 dated: 31.08.2020 is mentioned but said Rapt has never been produced by the prosecution before the court; meaning thereby that it has been withheld/ suppressed by the prosecution and presumption would be that same has been suppressed as it was not going to support the case of prosecution and in this regard, article 129(g) of the Qanoon-e-Shahadat Order, 1984 can be advantageously referred. So neither any record of 1122 nor any staff of Rescue-1122 has been produced by the prosecution to prove that Fozia Bibi and Liaqat Ali were immediately boarded in the vehicle for taking to DHQ Hospital, Nankana, therefore, there is unexplained delay on the part of the prosecution regarding registration of the case after the occurrence. It is well settled that when there is delay in reporting the incident to the police, then prosecution is under obligation to explain such delay and failure to do that will badly reflect upon the credibility of prosecution version. In this regard, guidance has been sought from the case of "Mst. ASIA BIBI versus The STATE and others" (PLD 2019 Supreme Court 64); relevant portion from paragraph No.29 of said case law is hereby reproduced: - "There is no cavil to the proposition, however, it is to be noted that in absence of any plausible explanation, this Court has always considered the delay in lodging of FIR to be fatal and castes a suspicion on the prosecution story, extending the benefit of doubt to the accused. It has been held by this Court that a FIR is always treated as a cornerstone of the prosecution case to establish guilt against those involved in a crime; thus, it has a significant role to play. If there is any delay in lodging of a FIR and commencement of investigation, it gives rise to a doubt, which, of course, cannot be extended to anyone else except to the accused..." Furthermore, though as per FIR (Ex.PA), application for registration of the case was received from Muhammad Amin (complainant/PW-3) at 05:40 p.m. and FIR was recorded at 05:40 p.m. yet it is noteworthy here that Muhammad Amin complainant while appearing as PW-3 during trial of the case stated in categorical terms during cross-examination that he reached Police Station at about 12:00 a.m. (night) on the day of occurrence and thereafter proceedings regarding the occurrence were conducted; relevant portion of the statement of Muhammad Amin (complainant/PW-3) in this regard is hereby reproduced as under:- "I reached PS at about 12:00 am of night on the day of occurrence thereafter all the proceedings in connection of this occurrence were conducted." As per statement of Dr. Anam Saleem (PW-8), dead body of Fozia Bibi (deceased of the case) was received in the dead house on 31.08.2020 at 08:30 p.m. whereas autopsy was conducted on the next day i.e. 01.09.2020 at 10:00 a.m. So, reason for delay in conducting autopsy was that police papers were received at 09:00 a.m. on 01.09.2020; relevant portion of the statement of PW-8 in this regard is hereby reproduced as follows:- "On 01.09.2020 I was posted at DHQ Hospital Nankana Sahib. According to record the dead body of deceased Fozia Bibi was received in dead house on 31.08.2020 at 08:30 PM brought by Rafaqat Ali 1104-C. It was a dead body of deceased Fozia Bibi wife of Muhammad Amin aged about 30/32 years, caste Chubail, r/o Maliwal. The complete police papers were received at 09:00 am on 01.09.2020 and I conducted the autopsy on the same day at about 10:00 am." meaning thereby that as per own case of prosecution, occurrence took place at 10:30 a.m. on 31.08.2020 whereas postmortem examination over dead body of the deceased was conducted on the next day at about 10:00 a.m. i.e. after the delay of 231/2 hours. This state of affairs reflects that none of the cited eye witnesses including the complainant was present at the "time & place" of occurrence and time has been consumed for procuring, inducing
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and engaging the witnesses, tailoring story for the case of prosecution and then registering the case in its present form after much delay and in above scenario, First Information Report (crime report), which is cornerstone of the case of the prosecution, cannot be termed as promptly recorded and such sort of FIR cannot provide any support to the case of prosecution rather superstructure i.e. case of prosecution raised on the basis of such sort of FIR is bound to fall and in this regard, cases of "HAROON SHAFIQUE versus The STATE and others"(2018 SCMR 2118),"MUHAMMAD RAFIQUE alias FEEQA versus The STATE" (2019 SCMR 1068), "SUFYAN NAWAZ and another versus The STATE and others" (2020 SCMR 192) and "MUHAMMAD ADNAN and another versus The STATE and others" (2021 SCMR 16) can be safely referred. So far as ocular account in this case is concerned, same consists of the statements of Muhammad Amin (complainant/PW-3), Liaqat Ali (PW-4), Allah Ditta (PW-6) and Allah Rakha (give up PW). None of them was having residence or job/business place at, adjacent or around the place of occurrence as per site plan of the place of occurrence prepared by the Investigating Officer of the case {Ex.P2 (copy whereof is available at pages No.182-183 of the Paper-book)} as well as site plan of place of occurrence prepared by draftsman {Ex.PM (copy whereof is available at pages No.204 to 208 of the Paper-Book)}, hence they were "chance witnesses" and were thus required to establish valid, cogent, plausible and acceptable reason to prove their presence at the "time & place" of occurrence, however, they could not offer any valid reason appealing to common prudent mind to establish their presence at the "time & place" of occurrence. In above scenario, evidence of cited witnesses i.e. Muhammad Amin (complainant/PW-3), Liaqat Ali (PW-4) and Allah Ditta (PW-6), who could not establish any valid reason/cause regarding their stated presence at the stated time, at the place of occurrence, is "suspect" evidence and cannot be accepted without pinch of salt; guidance in this regard has been sought from the case of "Mst. SUGHRA BEGUM and another vs. OAISER PERVEZ and others" (SUPRA) and relevant portion from paragraph No.14 of said case law is hereby reproduced: - "14. A chance witness, in legal parlance is the one who claims that he was present on the crime spot at the fateful time, albeit, his presence there was a sheer chance as in the ordinary course of business, place of residence and normal course of events, he was not supposed to be present on the spot but at a place where he resides, carries on business or runs day to day life affairs. It is in this context that the testimony of chance witness, ordinarily, is not accepted unless justifiable reasons are shown to establish his presence at the crime scene at the relevant time. In normal course, the presumption under the law would operate about his absence from the crime spot. True that in rare cases, the testimony of chance witness may be relied upon, provided some convincing explanations appealing to prudent mind for his presence on the crime spot are put forth, when the occurrence took place otherwise, his testimony would fall within the category of suspect evidence and cannot be accepted without a pinch of salt" Further guidance on the subject has been sought from the case of "MUHAMMAD ASHRAF alias ACCHU versus The STATE" (2019 SCMR 652), "Mst. MIR and another versus The STATE" (2020 SCMR 1850) and "SARFRAZ and another versus The STATE" (2023 SCMR 670). Though as per case of prosecution contained in application for registration of the case (Ex.PB), Fozia Bibi was going to tube-well of Niamat Bhatti for washing the clothes and when she reached near Government Primary School for Boys, Maliwal, she was attacked by the assailants and injuries were inflicted upon her body over there, however, site plans of the place of occurrence prepared by the Investigating Officer (Ex.P2) as well as by draftsman (Ex.PM) clearly show that any bloodstained earth was not available near Government Primary School for Boys, Maliwal rather as per site plans (Ex.P-2 and Ex.PM mentioned above), same was available in the paddy crop of Ch. Niamat Ali and further perusal of site plan (Ex.PM) reflects that dishonest improvements were introduced by the prosecution while mentioning in the site plan that she was attacked at front of premises of
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Government Primary School for Boys, Maliwal, however, uplifted from there by the accused persons and taken to the land of Nimat Ali where she was given blows with knife and got injured but nothing like that was mentioned in the application for registration of the case (Ex.PB) and since no bloodstained earth was available in front of premises of Government Primary School for Boys, Maliwal, therefore, said dishonest improvement was introduced for justifying presence of bloodstained earth in the land of Niamat Ali. Furthermore, any bloodstained earth from the place where Liaqat Ali (injured/PW-4) sustained injuries has also not been secured, hence stated place of occurrence where Fozia Bibi was attacked upon and given injuries i.e. near Government Primary School for Boys, Maliwal could not be established due to non-availability of any blood over there, similarly, any place where Liaqat Ali (injured/PW-4) received injuries could not be established because presence of his blood was neither shown in the site plan of place of occurrence nor his blood was secured during investigation. It is also worth mentioning here that if according to application for registration of the case (Ex.PB), Liaqat Ali was severely injured and immediately after the occurrence, call was made at 1122, staff of Rescue-1122 reached at the spot and he along with Fozia Bibi in severe injured condition departed to DHQ Hospital, Nankana and occurrence took place at 10:30 a.m., then why Liaqat Ali (injured/PW- 4) did not reach immediately (within reasonable time) to DHQ Hospital, Nankana Sahib and why he reached there at 03:10 p.m. and that too in the company of police i.e. Muhammad Yaqoob, S.I./Investigating Officer of the case (PW-9), prosecution is silent in this regard rather remained fail to explain the same. Perusal of Medicolegal Examination Certificate Ex.PN/1 (copy whereof is available at Page No.178 of the Paper-Book) reveals that three injuries were noted on the body of Liaqat Ali (injured) by the Medical Officer; injury No.1 was declared as "Jurh Ghayr Jaifah Badi'ha" attracting offence under Section: 337-F (ii) PPC, injury No.2 was declared as "Jurh Ghayr Jaifah Damihah" attracting offence under Section: 337-F(i) PPC and injury No.3 was declared as "Shajjah-i-Khafifah" attracting offence under Section: 337-A(i) PPC; it has been mentioned in Ex.PN/1 that Liaqat was well oriented at the time of his examination and he gave the history to the Medical Officer that he was beaten up by one person carrying dagger (Chaku) on 31.08.2020 between 12:00/01:00 p.m. at Maliwal, Police Station: Mangtanwala; relevant portion of the Medicolegal Examination Certificate of Liaqat (injured) is hereby scanned below:- Dr. Ghulam Farid (PW-7), who medically examined Liaqat Ali in injured condition also categorically stated aforementioned history regarding receiving of injuries by Liaqat Ali at 12:00/01:00 at Maliwal, Police Station: Mangtanwala. Said Medical Officer (PW-7) further stated that he mentioned true words of injured Liaqat Ali in the history of aforementioned injured and it is further clarified that name of person i.e. assailant was not mentioned by Liaqat Ali in said history mentioned in the Medicolegal Examination Certificate and relevant portion of statement of the Doctor (PW-7) in this regard is hereby reproduced as follows:- "The brief history on the MLC is the true words of injured Liaqat Ali. As per the brief history available on MLC the injured was assaulted by one person. The name of assailant is not mentioned in the MLC. The history as informed by the injured has completely been mentioned on it." Aforementioned state of affairs makes it crystal clear that Liaqat Ali was beaten by one person whose name was not told by him while giving his history to the Medical Officer at 12:00/01:00 p.m. on 31.08.2020 and he was medically examined at 03:10 p.m.; meaning thereby that case of prosecution that the injured received injuries at 10:30 a.m. on 31.08.2020 has been negated by Liaqat Ali before the Medical Officer at the time of giving history, in which he clearly stated that he was given beating at 12:00/01:00 p.m., therefore, this situation leads to the conclusion that Liaqat Ali did not receive injuries in the occurrence which took place at 10:30 a.m. in which Fozia Bibi received
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the injuries and for the said reason, Rapt No.14 (mentioned in MLC) has not been brought on the record by the prosecution. It is also important to mention here that the injury statement of Liaqat Ali {Ex.PP (copy whereof is available at Page No.180 of the Paper-Book)} shows that Liaqat Ali came to the Police Station, stated over there that he has been injured by Karamat Ali (Note: parentage and other particulars of said Karamat Ali were not mentioned therein), he wants to obtain his medical result, said injury statement was prepared with reference to Rapt No.14 dated: 31.08.2020 by Sarfraz Ahmad 225/HC, Moharrar of Police Station: Mangtanwala (PW-2). Now on the one hand, this document i.e. injury statement (Ex.PP) negates the stance mentioned in the application for registration of the case that Liaqat Ali and Fozia Bibi in severe injured condition were got boarded on vehicle of 1122 and taken to DHQ Hospital, Nankana Sahib and from where Liaqat was referred to Jinnah Hospital, Lahore because according to this document i.e. Ex.PP, Liaqat Ali himself came to the Police Station and asked that during quarrel, he has been injured and he wants to get his medical result and from there he was sent to the hospital and in said injury statement (Ex.PP), it has not been mentioned that Liaqat Ali stated that Fozia Bibi was also injured in the occurrence and while saving her, he has received injuries or Fozia Bibi has succumbed to the injuries/died, so said document (Ex.PP) has negated the case of the prosecution mentioned in the application for registration of the case (Ex.PB), whereas, on the other hand, Sarfraz Ahmad 225/HC, Moharrar of Police Station: Mangtanwala while appearing as PW-2 did not depose even a single word regarding preparing of said injury statement i.e. Ex.PP, therefore, same could not be duly proved. Muhammad Amin (complainant/PW-3) was husband of Fozia Bibi (deceased of the case) but he did not intervene for saving his wife although assailants were not equipped with any sophisticated firearm weapon. So much so, even after fleeing away of the assailant from the place of occurrence, if complainant and other cited eye witnesses managed Fozia Bibi in injured condition or helped her for boarding in the vehicle…
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