Friday 6 September 2013

Bail Granted even after fire shots by the accused

PLJ 2013 Cr.C. (Lahore) 709
Present: Muhammad Khalid Mehmood Khan, J.
MUHAMMAD AFZAL--Petitioner
versus
STATE and another--Respondents
Crl. Misc. No. 16867-B of 2012, decided on 17.1.2013.
Criminal Procedure Code, 1898 (V of 1898)--
----S. 497--Pakistan Penal Code, (XLV of 1860), Ss. 324/337-F(iii) & 34--Bail, grant of--Allegation of--Fires made by accused with 12 bore gun hit the injured on his belly as well as right arm--Although the petitioner was named in the FIR with the role of causing injuries to the injured, but the injuries attributed to the petitioner comes under the category of `ghayr-jaifah-mutalahimah' falling u/S. 337-F (iii) and the maximum sentence of the said offence is three years and the grant of bail in such like cases is a rule and refusal is an exception--Involvement of the petitioner qua his intention to kill the injured was left for the trial Court to decide after recording of evidence--Petitioner was behind the bars for the last more than nine months and not a statement of single witness has been recorded so far by the trial Court--During investigation nothing was recovered from the petitioner; investigation to his extent was complete and he was no more required for the said purpose--So, no useful purpose would be served by keeping the petitioner behind the bars for indefinite period--Bail allowed.           [Pp. 710 & 711] A
M/s. Khan Imtiaz Ali Khan and Mushtaq Ahmad Dhoon, Advocates for Petitioner.
Rana Zahid Iqbal, Advocate for Complainant.
Ch. Karamat Ali, Additional Prosecutor General for State.
Date of hearing: 17.1.2013
Order
This is the 2nd petition on behalf of Muhammad Afzal petitioner seeking his release on bail in case FIR No. 144/2012 dated 25.03.2012 dated 25.03.2012 for the offence under Sections 324/337-F (iii)/34, PPC registered at Police Station Saddar Arifwala, District Pakpattan. His earlier petition seeking the same relief (Crl.Misc.No. 7996-B of 2012) was dismissed as withdrawn vide order dated 05.07.2012.
2.  Allegation against the petitioner, in brief, as per contents of the FIR is that the fires made by him with .12 bore gun hit the injured on his belly as well as right arm.
3.  Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner has been falsely involved in this case due to mala fide of the complainant in connivance with the local police; that the petitioner is behind the bars for the last more than nine months and his trial has not been concluded so far; that during course of investigation it transpired that the petitioner was empty handed and nothing was recovered from the petitioner and that the offence attributed to the petitioner falls under Section 337-F (iii), PPC and the maximum sentence for the said offence is three years and as such the petitioner is entitled to be released on bail.
4.  On the other hand, learned Additional Prosecutor General assisted by learned counsel for the complainant submits that the petitioner was arrested in this case on 10.04.2012 and specific role of causing fire arm injuries is attributed to the petitioner and as such he is not entitled to the concession of bail.
5.  Heard. Record perused.
6.  Although the petitioner is named in the FIR with the role of causing injuries to the injured, but the injuries attributed to the petitioner comes under the category of `ghayr-jaifah-mutalahimahfalling  under  Section  337-F  (iii) and the maximum sentence of the said offence is three years and the grant of bail in such like cases is a rule and refusal is an exception. The involvement of the petitioner qua his intention to kill the injured is left for the trial Court to decide after recording of evidence. Petitioner is behind the bars for the last more than nine months and not a statement of single witness has been recorded so far by the learned trial Court. During investigation nothing was recovered from the petitioner; investigation to his extent is complete and he is no more required for the said purpose. So, no useful purpose would be served by keeping the petitioner behind the bars for indefinite period.
7.  Keeping in view the aforesaid facts and circumstances, I am persuaded to allow this petition. Consequently, this petition is accepted and the petitioner is admitted to post arrest bail subject to his furnishing bail bonds in the sum of Rs. 100,000/- with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of the learned trial Court.
(A.S.)   Bail allowed