Habibullah V. Irshad Ahmed and 2 others,

MLD 2015 1073Balochistan High CourtCriminal Law2015

Bench: Muhammad Kamran Khan Malakhail

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2015 M L D 1073 [Balochistan] Before Muhammad Kamran Khan Mulakhail, J HABIBULLAH ---Petitioner versus IRSHAD AHMED and 2 others ---Respondents Constitutional Petition No.85 of 2015, decided on 19th February, 2015. Penal Code (XLV of 1860) --- ----Ss. 337 -A, 337- D, 337- E, 147, 148, 149 & 109---Criminal Procedure Code (V of 1898), S.22- A---Qanun- e-Shahadat (10 of 1984), Arts.85 & 90---Constitution of Pakistan, Art.199--- Constitutional petition ---Maintainability ---Causing Shajjah, Jaifah, Ghayr -Jaifah, rioting, rioting armed with deadly weapons, common object, abetment ---Registration of FIR ---Nominated accused lodged FIR with the allegation that respondent along with another launched assault upon his nephews and resultantly they had been seriousl y injured---Subsequently, said respondent who was nominated accused in the FIR, submitted an application under S.22- A, Cr.P.C., and on production of medical certificate of one who was also nominated accused, another respondent was directed to lodge FIR against the petitioner and others, which order had been impugned in the constitutional petition ---When respondent and another injured, were already nominated accused in FIR registered by the petitioner, then recording the version of accused persons, when they claimed that one of them too had been injured during the course of scuffle, then it became necessary to record the version of other side, not as a defence version, but different narration according to their version; and then both the versions would be pla ced before the court; which after leading the evidence by the respective parties, would be a subject of judicial scrutiny --- Recording a counter version of already reported occurrence, was well recognized ---When respondent being a nominated accused in FIR r egistered by the petitioner claimed the injuries, which were caused to one of his companions, the justice required that both the versions of respective parties would necessary be recorded; and thereafter, be placed before the court of competent jurisdictio n for its adjudication strictly in accordance with law ---Order of the court could not be defeated on the basis of misconceived allegation; and by just filing an affidavit, particularly when a person who had sworn the said affidavit, himself was fugitive fr om law; and did not surrender his will before the court ---Said practice, neither could be allowed, nor could be made a precedent ---Constitutional petition, neither on law, nor on merits being maintainable, was dismissed. Muhammad Mushtaq v. The State A dditional Sessions Judge, Lahore and others 2008 YLR 2301; Muhammad Bashir v. Station House Officer, Okara Cantt and others PLD 2007 SC 539; Khizar Hayat's v. Inspector General of Police (Punjab) PLD 2005 Lah. 470 and Muhammad Haneef v. SHO 2014 PCr.LJ 1044 ref. Abdul Hadi Tareen for Petitioner. Nemo for Respondent. Date of hearing: 4th February, 2015. ORDER MUHAMMAD KAMRAN KHAN MULAKHAIL, J. ---This constitutional petition is directed against the order dated 15th January 2015 ("impugned order") passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge, Pishin being designated Justice of the Peace ("trial court") on an application under section 22- A of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1898 (Cr.P.C.) filed by respondent No.1, whereby the respondent No.3 i.e. Naib Tehsildar, Bostan, Tehsil Karezat, Pishin was directed to lodge the FIR against the petitioner and others. 2. Brief facts of the case are that one Rahim Gul the nominated accused, lodged an FIR No.21/2014 with Levies Station, Bostan on 21st Novembe r 2014 under Sections 337- ADF, 147, 148, 149 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 ("PPC") with the allegation that the respondent No.1 along with his brothers and cousins have launched assault upon his nephews, who were playing in front of their house, resultantly both of them have been seriously injured. Subsequently, the respondent No.1 who was nominated accused in aforesaid FIR submitted an application under Section 22- A Cr.P.C. before learned Sessions Judge, Pishin which was transmitted to the file of Additional Sessions Judge, Pishin and on production of medical certificate of one Muhammad Iqbal son of Abdul Hakeem who was also nominated accused, the respondent No.3 was directed to lodge the FIR against the petitioner and others vide order dated 15th January 2015, which is impugned herein. 3. Mr. Abdul Hadi Tareen, learned counsel for the petitioner contended that FIR against the respondent No.1 and others for causing severe injuries to the petitioner was lodged on 22nd November, 2014. whereafter, nominated accused persons including respondent No.1 remained silent near about one month and thereafter filed an application under section 22- A, Cr.P.C., which itself is sufficient to prove that the said application was filed after deliberation and consult ation with intend to build up a counter criminal case against the petitioner and others. He contended that after filing application under section 22- A, Cr.P.C. the petitioner entered into appearance through counsel and filed Vakalatnama, when there was no medical certificate on record. Subsequently, the petitioner proceeded to Karachi for treatment of his injured nephew and on their return; they have come to know about the impugned order which was culminated into registration of FIR No.3/2015. He vehemently objected the production of medical certificate and contended that same was never produced, nor the said injured appeared before the learned Justice of the Peace. He added that the order was passed in absence of the petitioner, therefore, he was condemned unheard which course is against the norms of justice. He maintained that the said medical certificate is still not on record and the learned Presiding Officer has committed a gross illegality while wrongly mentioning that the medical certificate of alleged injured Muhammad Iqbal son of Abdul Hakeem has been produced. He added that this petition is supported by an affidavit; therefore, explanation may be called to the effect that without production of medical certificate how the direction for registration of FIR was made. He finally urged for quashment of impugned order and FIR lodged against the petitioner and others. 4. In view of serious allegation leveled against the Presiding Officer, a query was posed to the learned counsel that whether the petitioner is present in the court who sworn affidavit and leveled such a serious allegation. The learned counsel responded that since the FIR has been lodged against the petitioner, therefore, he did not come to the court; again learned counsel was asked whether a bail has been obtained by the petitioner, on which he responded that since the quashment of FIR has been sought through this petition, therefore, the petitioner needs not to obtain the bail. 5. Heard. 6. Irrespective of the merit of the case, which und er the constitutional jurisdiction of this court cannot be appreciated being mixed question of fact and in view of prayer made, this court is bound to look into the jurisdictional defect or illegality committed by the learned Justice of the Peace, while passing the impugned order. So far, the legal aspect of the provision of section 22 - A, Cr.P.C. is concerned, when the respondent No.1 and injured Muhammad Iqbal son of Abdul Hakeem are already nominated accused in an FIR registered by the petitioner, then re cording the version of accused persons, particularly, when they claim that one of them too has been injured during the course of scuffle, then it becomes necessary to record the version of other side, of course not as a defence version, but quite different narration according to their version and then both the versions shall be placed before the court, which after leading the evidence by the respective parties, would be a subject of judicial scrutiny, recording a counter version of already reported occurren ce is well recognized in view of dictum laid down by the Hon'ble apex Court. The learned counsel relied upon a case of Muhammad Mushtaq v. The Additional Sessions Judge, Lahore and others (2008 YLR 2301) with utmost respect to the judgment passed by the Hon'ble Judge of the Hon'ble Lahore High Court, Lahore, in (sic) may be imperative to note here that in the referred to judgment the learned Judge of the Hon'ble High Court, has relied upon the cases of Muhammad Bashir v. Station House Officer, Okara Cantt a nd others (PLD 2007 SC 539) and Khizar Hayat v. Inspector General of Police (Punjab) (PLD 2005 Lah. 470), in the referred two judgments recording of counter version, has been discussed with details and both the aforesaid judgment have been referred time an d again, particularly, in respect of the powers of Justice of the Peace. Suffice to add here that this court too, while dealing with similar proposition relied upon aforesaid judgments in case of Muhammad Haneef v. SHO (2014 PCr.LJ 1044). Therefore, when t he respondent No.1 being a nominated accused in FIR registered by the petitioner claimed the injuries, which were caused to one of his companions, the justice requires that both the versions of respective parties shall necessary be recorded and thereafter, be placed before the court of competent jurisdiction for its adjudication strictly in accordance with law. 7. Now adverting to the other contention in respect of non- production of medical certificate, and same being wrongly mentioned by the Presiding O fficer. On careful consideration of record, I am of the conclusive opinion that in case of such eventuality the provisions of Qanun- e- Shahadat Order, 1984 ("order") will come into play, whereas Article 85 of the Order defines the various kinds of public documents and its sub- Article (3) relates to "documents forming part of the record of judicial proceedings", while Article 90 provides "presumption as to genuineness of certified copies", thus the certified copy of public document, particularly, the record r elating to judicial proceedings carries strong presumption of correctness and sanctity of high order is always attached to judicial proceedings. I am not persuaded to accept the bald statement of the petitioner and to discard the certified copy of judic ial record. The order of the court cannot be defeated on basis of misconceived allegation and by just filing an ordinary affidavit, particularly when a person who has sworn the said affidavit, himself is fugitive of law and does not feel it necessary to su rrender his will before the court. Neither the said practice can be allowed nor it can be made a precedent, which if allowed will amount to diminish the edifice of administration of justice. Therefore, it can safely be concluded that this petition neith er on law point nor on merits is maintainable, thus is dismissed in limine. HBT/42/Bal Petition dismissed.
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