Fair Trial is Fundamental Right of Accused
📝 AI Summary — Plain-Language Overview
This case involved Mujahid Hussain, who was accused of a serious crime under Pakistan's Penal Code, sections 376 and 511, related to an FIR registered in Muzaffargarh in 2012. During his trial, when his lawyer failed to appear in court to cross-examine prosecution witnesses, the trial court simply closed his right to cross-examine those witnesses altogether. In some instances, the court even asked the accused himself to conduct the cross-examination rather than a qualified lawyer.
Hussain challenged this decision before the Lahore High Court, arguing that even if his lawyer was unavailable, the court should have arranged a state-funded lawyer to represent him, especially given the seriousness of the charges.
The High Court agreed with him. It ruled that while speedy trials are desirable, rushing justice at the cost of fairness is unacceptable, famously noting that justice hurried is justice buried. The court held that when an accused's lawyer doesn't show up, the trial court should either adjourn the hearing briefly or appoint a lawyer at state expense, rather than penalizing the accused. It also strongly criticized the practice of asking an accused person to personally cross-examine witnesses, stating this can never substitute for cross-examination by a trained lawyer.
The court set aside the trial court's order and directed that Hussain be given a proper opportunity to arrange legal representation for cross-examining witnesses. This case reinforces the constitutional guarantee of a fair trial and due process for every accused person, particularly in serious crimin
یہ مقدمہ مجاہد حسین سے متعلق ہے، جن پر پاکستان کے تعزیرات کے ضابطے کی دفعات 376 اور 511 کے تحت ایک سنگین جرم کا الزام تھا، جو 2012 میں مظفرگڑھ میں درج ایک ایف آئی آر سے متعلق تھا۔ ان کے مقدمے کی سماعت کے دوران، جب ان کا وکیل استغاثہ کے گواہوں سے جوابی سوال جرح کرنے کے لیے عدالت میں پیش نہ ہو سکا، تو ٹرائل کورٹ نے سیدھا سادا ان گواہوں پر جوابی سوال جرح کرنے کا حق ہی ختم کر دیا۔ بعض مواقع پر تو عدالت نے ملزم سے یہ بھی کہا کہ وہ خود ہی جوابی سوال جرح کرے، بجائے اس کے کہ کسی تربیت یافتہ وکیل سے یہ کام کرایا جاتا۔
حسین نے اس فیصلے کو لاہور ہائی کورٹ میں چیلنج کیا اور دلیل دی کہ اگر ان کا وکیل موجود نہیں تھا تو بھی عدالت کو چاہیے تھا کہ سرکاری خرچ پر ایک وکیل کا انتظام کرتی تاکہ وہ ان کی نمائندگی کر سکے، خاص طور پر اس صورت میں جب الزامات اتنے سنگین تھے۔
ہائی کورٹ نے ان کی بات سے اتفاق کیا۔ عدالت نے قرار د
Generated from the full judgment text below — not a substitute for reading the actual opinion.
PLJ 2015 Cr.C . ( Lahore ) 454 [ Multan Bench, Multan ] Present: Mahmood Ahmad Bhatti , J. MUJAHID HUSSAIN --Petitioner versus STATE etc. --Respondents Criminal Revision No. 99 of 2015, decided on 23.4.2015. Criminal Procedure Code, 1898 (V of 1898)-- ----S. 439--Pakistan Penal Code, (LXV of 1860), Ss. 376 & 411--Criminal Revision--Accused right to cross-examine witnesses produced by prosecution has been closed-- Held : Justice hurried is Justice buried--Although it is laudable that cases are to be concluded within shortest possible time, but it is also axiomatic that justice hurried is justice buried--No doubt petitioner was duly represented, but when his counsel did not show up for one reason or another, there was no warrant to penalize petitioner, who is charged with a capital offence--Either hearing of case could have been adjourned for a few days or trial Court was to engage a counsel for petitioner at State expense--It seems that it was overlooked by trial Court that due process “and a fair trial” has been guaranteed as a fundamental right--Approach of trial Court is liable to be faulted on another count as well--Under no circumstances should it have asked accused to cross-examine witnesses produced by prosecution--Time and again, it has been held by superior Courts that cross-examination by an accused can never be a substitute for cross-examination carried out by a trained legal mind/counsel--Revision allowed. [Pp. 455 & 456] A & B 1993 SCMR 550 & 2013 PCr.LJ 1279, ref . Mr. Hamayun Syed Rasul , Advocate counsel for Petitioner. Ch. Muhammad Akbar , Deputy Prosecutor General for State. Date of hearing: 23.04.2015. Order Mujahid Hussain , the petitioner who is an accused of F.I.R. No. 312/12 dated 07.08.2012 registered under Sections 376 and 511, P.P.C. at Police Station Saddar Alipur , District Muzaffargarh has filed this petition to assail the validity of the order dated 04.02.2015 passed by the learned trial Court, whereby his right to cross-examine the witnesses produced by the prosecution has been closed.
2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is indicted for a crime that carries death penalty. According to him, even if the counsel engaged by the petitioner had refused to cross-examine the witnesses produced by the prosecution, learned trial Court was to engage another counsel for him at the State expense, who could have defended the petitioner.
3. A notice was issued to Mst . Sehrish , Respondent No. 2/the complainant. It seems that she has opted not to contest this revision petition. However, the learned Deputy Prosecutor General has frankly conceded that the impugned order cannot be defended in view of the High Court Rules and Orders on the subject.
4. I have heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the Deputy Prosecutor General, besides perusing the record annexed to the revision petition.
5. Although it is laudable that cases are to be concluded within the shortest possible time, but it is also axiomatic that justice hurried is justice buried. No doubt the petitioner was duly represented, but when his counsel did not show up for one reason or another, there was no warrant to penalize the petitioner, who is charged with a capital offence. Either the hearing of the case could have been adjourned for a few days or the learned trial Court was to engage a counsel for the petitioner at the State expense. It seems that it was overlooked by the learned trial Court that due process “and a fair trial” has been guaranteed as a fundamental right. To remind it of its obligations, Article 10-A of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 is reproduced for ready reference: “For the determination of his civil rights and obligations or in any criminal charge against him a person shall be entitled to a fair trial and due process.”
6. The approach of the learned trial Court is liable to be faulted on another count as well. Under no circumstances should it have asked the accused to cross-examine the witnesses produced by the prosecution. Time and again, it has been held by the superior Courts that the cross- examination by an accused can never be a substitute for the cross-examination carried out by a trained legal mind/counsel. It was so held by the Honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan in the case of “ Saeed Muhammad Shah v. The State” (1993 SCMR 550) and the Sindh High Court in the case of “ Waqar v. The State” (2013 P.Cr.L.J . 1279).
7. In view of the above, the impugned order dated 04.02.2015 passed by an Additional Sessions Judge, Ali Pur , District Muzaffargarh is hereby set aside by allowing this revision petition. Consequently, the petitioner shall be dealt with in accordance with the law and he would be provided an adequate opportunity to make an arrangement for his representation, enabling him to conduct the cross-examination of the witnesses produced by the prosecution. (A.S.) Revision allowed