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2001 MLD 1437

SHABRAT KHAN vs THE STATE

Citation2001 MLD 1437
CourtLahore High Court
Case No.Criminal Appeal No. 100-J of 1998
Date1999-05-27
Judge(s)Khawaja Muhammad Sharif, Riaz Kayani
ResultSentence reduce

This judgment will dispose of Criminal Appeal No. 100-J of 1998. The appellant was convicted and sentenced by Judge Special Court, Suppression of Terrorist Activities constituted under (Special Courts) Act, 1975, vide his judgment dated 28-8-1998 to undergo 10 years R.I. Under section 13-B of Pakistan Arms Ordinance XX of 1965 with a fine of Rs.20,000 (twenty thousand), in default one year R.I. Benefit of section 382-B, Cr.P.C. Was also granted to him.

2. The brief facts of the case as narrated in the F.I.R. Are that on 14-12-1993 when complainant Tariq Mehmood, Inspector/S.H.O. Police Station Sadar Jhang was present alongwith police party at 12-20 a.m. (midnight) near Bhakkar Road Mauza Wajhlana, they saw 125 CC Honda Motor Cycle standing there. Immediately, a person whose name later on came to know as Shabrat Khan, came there, sat on the Motor Cycle. He was apprehended and Klashnikov P.1 alongwith 30 live bullets was recovered from him which was taken into possession vide memo. Exh. P.B. Motor Cycle Honda 125 CC Bearing No. F.I.R. 3787 was also taken into possession vide memo. Exh.P.C. The appellant was challaned and he was tried by the Special Judge of Special Court.

3. The prosecution in order to prove its case has produced in all three witnesses namely, Riaz Hussain H.C. Examined as, P.W. 1, who had recorded formal F.I.R. Exh.PA/1 on the receipt of complaint Exh. P.A. Which was sent to him by Tariq Mehmod S.H.O./Inspector, Abdul Razzaq, A.S.I., examined as P.W.

2. He was also member of the raiding party. According to his statement on 14-12-1993 he was present at the spot and it was 12-20 a.m. (midnight) when the appellant was arrested and klashnikov alongwith 30 live bullets .Was recovered from him and was also taken into possession.

The third witness is Tariq Mehmood S.H.U./Inspector who Mated that same facts which he had stated in the F.I.R. Exh. P.A./1. Sajjad Hussain, A.S.I. (P.W.) was given up as being unnecessary. Report of Fire Arm Expert was tendered in defence which is Exh. P.E. And according to the said report the klashnikov recovered from the appellant was round to be automatic.

4. Learned counsel for the appellant deputed by us at State expenses, submits that all the witnesses examined by the prosecution are police officials, no public witness has been cited or examined and this is clear violation of section 103, Cr.P.C. That klashnikov alongwith 30 bullets has been planted on the appellant,' that no case is made out against the appellant.

5. On the other hand, learned counsel for the State supports the judgment of the trial Court.

6. We have heard the learned counsel for the parties and have also gone through the evidence recorded by the trial Court. In the instant case the appellant was arrested on 14-12-1993 at 12.20 a.m. (midnight). Klashnikov alongwith 30 bullets was got recovered from his possession. He could no, produce any licence. A case was registered against him, although the witnesses produced by the prosecution were police officials but they have got no animus against the appellant. There was no question of false implication of the appellant. Klashnikov being an expensive weapon cannot be planted easily. No defence evidence was produced by the appellant. All the witnesses produced by the prosecution i.e. P.W. 2 and P.W. 3 have corroborated their statements. Then there is report of Fire Arm Expert which shows that klashnikov was an automatic weapon.

7. In our considered opinion the prosecution has proved its case against the appellant beyond any shadow of doubt. However, we take a lenient view as there is no evidence on record that the appellant is a previous convict. Appellant is behind the bars since 14-12-1993, according to the interim orders passed by the learned trial Court. The conviction and sentence which the appellant has already undergone is treated to be sufficient, in the circumstances of the case, to meet the ends of justice. The sentence of fine of Rs.20,000 (twenty thousand) is also reduced to Rs. 10,000 (ten thousand), in default six months R.I. Benefit of section 382-B, Cr.P.C. Is also granted to the appellant.

8. With these observations this appeal stands disposed of.

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