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PLD 2018 Lahore 423

MUHAMMAD LATIF vs THE STATE and others

CitationPLD 2018 Lahore 423
CourtLahore High Court
Case No.Criminal Miscellaneous No,156603-B of 2018
Date2018-03-01
Judge(s)Muhammad Anwaarul Haq
ResultBail refused.

ORDER

MUHAMMAD ANWAARUL HAQ, J.---Through this second petition, petitioner Muhammad Latif seeks his post arrest bail in a case FIR No,196 dated 16.06.2017 registered under sections 324, 353, 334, 186 and 109, P.P.C. at Police Station City, Pindi Bhattian District, Hafizabad. The first petition i,e, Criminal Miscellaneous No,71377-B of 2017 was dismissed for want of prosecution on 14.12.2017.

2. Allegation against the petitioner is that he deliberately and intentionally drove his dumper/truck over Muhammad Aslam ASI who at the relevant time was performing his duty in uniform. It is duly mentioned in the FIR that complainant along with Muhammad Aslam ASI and other officials tried to stop the petitioner for inspection of driving licence and other documents but he did not stop his truck and police officials followed him on their motorbikes who because of some road jump reduced speed of the truck upon which officials crossed the truck and Muhammad Aslam ASI again cautioned the petitioner to stop his vehicle but he, with the intention to kill Muhammad Aslam ASI, drove his vehicle over him in result of which police official lost his leg under his knee.

3. Heard. Record perused.

4. Petitioner was arrested by the police at the spot when he was trying to escape after the alleged occurrence. The injury attributed to the petitioner had admittedly resulted into amputation of right leg up to the knee of Muhammad Aslam ASI and that was subsequently declared attracting the offence under section 334, P.P.C. Argument of learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner was not driving the vehicle but was working as a conductor and after the escape of the driver from the spot he was detained by the police officials with mala fide intention is not supported by any material on record. Even otherwise it is not believable that police officials including the injured one who has lost his leg would substitute the real culprit with an innocent conductor who was not driving the vehicle. The other argument of learned counsel for the petitioner that the alleged occurrence falls within the purview of section 337G, P.P.C. and the same is bailable, is also misconceived. In the normal course of action, in an accident case "criminal intent" is found missing whereas in this case the same has specifically been alleged in the F.I.R and statements of the eye- witnesses. In a considerable number of cases in different jurisdictions, causing death/injury by driving over the vehicle especially in the backdrop of terrorism has been termed as deliberate and intentional when the vehicle was used as a weapon of offence, hence, benefit of section 337G, P.P.C. cannot be claimed by any person whose act by itself was unlawful i,e, driving a heavy duty truck without a driving licence. Even otherwise the argument of learned counsel for the petitioner is two folded, on one side he argued that the petitioner was not driving the vehicle at the time of incident and on the other hand he claimed benefit of section 337G, P.P.C. i,e, an exception to the general rule. It goes without saying that deeper appreciation of evidence is not permissible at bail stage and it is for the trial court to make a determination as to the "rash and negligent driving" or "intentional and deliberate act" of the petitioner.

5. Needless to add that driving of heavy duty vehicles by unlicenced drivers showing high handedness and using their vehicles as weapon of offence against the police officials cannot be encouraged as it validly creates a sense of insecurity in the minds of the officials on duty to control traffic offences for the safety of public at large.

In view of all above, this bail petition being devoid of any force is dismissed.

6. It is, however, clarified that the observations made herein are just tentative in nature and strictly confined to the disposal of this bail petition.

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