1. MUHAMMAD YAQUB ALI, J.-The petitioner stands convicted under Section 302, P. P. C., and sentenced to death for the murder of Muhammad Yakub, deceased, by stabbing him with knife on the morning of the 19th August 1968, in the city of Lyallpur.
2. The occurrence was witnessed by Muhammad Ishfaq, F W. 7, brother of the deceased and two other neighbours, namely, Ghulam Muhammad, P. W. 8 and Muhammad Ramzan, P. W. 9, The 'deceased was taken to the hospital in injured condition, but lie died before medical aid could be given to him. The motive for the crime was a quarrel', between the children of the two families on the day which led to exchange ofabuses and an altercation- in which- the deceased slapped the petitioner.
3. We have, with the help of learned counsel for the petitioner, examined the record and found that there was no previous back--ground of enmity between the parties. Muhammad Ishfaq, brother of the deceased, had, therefore, no reason to substitute the petitioner for the real culprit. Ghulam Muhammad, P. W. 8 and Muhammad Ramzan, P. W. 9 were wholly independent. One of them accompanied Muhammad Yaqub, deceased, to the hospital and his presence is noted in the medico-legal report. The statement of the other witness was also recorded by the Investigating Officer in the Hospital soon after Muhammad Yakub expired. We have read the statements of the three eye-witnesses and found the account given by them consistent. The circum--stances attending upon the crime also corroborate their version. We accordingly find no reason to call in question the findings arrived at by the Courts below that the petitioner was guilty of the offences under section 302, P. P. C., for the pre-planned murder of Muhammad Yakub, deceased. As no mitigating circumstance appeared the sentence of death was correctly awarded to him. The petition is dismissed.