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| dacoity bail granted by Supreme Court on grounds Contradiction in details of stollen goods and no recovery. |
سپریم کورٹ آف پاکستان کے سامنے *فوجداری پٹیشن نمبر 188-P of 2023* کے کیس میں، درخواست گزار کاشف نے پشاور ہائی کورٹ کے فیصلے کے خلاف ضمانت کی درخواست کی جس نے اسے مسترد کر دیا تھا۔ کاشف کو 20 دسمبر 2022 کو درج کی گئی ایک ایف آئی آر میں الزام لگایا گیا تھا، جو مبینہ طور پر شکایت کنندہ کے گھر پر ہوئی تھی۔ ایف آئی آر میں آتشیں اسلحے اور دیگر قیمتی سامان کی چوری کا ذکر کیا گیا تھا، لیکن درخواست گزار کی تفصیل ایف آئی آر میں دی گئی تفصیل سے میل نہیں کھاتی، اور اس سے کوئی مسروقہ سامان برآمد نہیں ہوا۔ کاشف نے دعویٰ کیا کہ اسے غلط طور پر پھنسایا گیا تھا اور وہ غیر قانونی حراست میں تھا۔
سپریم کورٹ نے تفتیش میں تضادات اور مسائل کو نوٹ کرتے ہوئے کاشف کو کچھ شرائط کے ساتھ ضمانت دینے کا فیصلہ کیا۔ سماعت کے دوران، عدالت کو شکایت کنندہ کی طرف سے پیش کردہ ایک بے قاعدہ دستاویز ملی جس میں مبینہ طور پر ممنوعہ بور کے ہتھیار (ایس ایم جی) رکھنے کی اجازت دی گئی تھی۔ اس سے ایسے ہتھیاروں کے لائسنس کے اجراء اور ضابطے کے حوالے سے کئی قانونی سوالات اٹھے۔
عدالت نے ممنوعہ بور کے ہتھیاروں کی قانونی حیثیت اور لائسنس کے اجراء اور آئینی حقوق کے ساتھ ان کی ہم آہنگی پر توجہ مرکوز کرتے ہوئے ان مسائل کی تحقیقات کے لیے ایک علیحدہ آئینی پٹیشن تشکیل دینے کی ہدایت کی۔ ان خدشات کو دور کرنے اور اپنے جوابات فراہم کرنے کے لیے متعلقہ سرکاری افسران کو نوٹس جاری کیے گئے تھے۔
SUPREME COURT OF PAKISTAN
(Appellate Jurisdiction)
PRESENT:
Justice Qazi Faez Isa, CJ
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar
Justice Musarrat Hilali
Criminal Petition No.188-P of 2023
[Against the judgment dated 10.11.2023 passed by the Peshawar High Court,
Peshawar in Crl. Misc. (BA) No.3997-P/2023]
Kashif
…Petitioner(s)
Versus
Imran and another
…Respondent(s)
For the Petitioner(s)
: Mr. Shabbir Hussain Gigyani, ASC
Complainant
: In person
For the State
: Mr. Altaf Khan, Addl. AG KP
Date of Hearing
: 17.01.2024
O R D E R
Qazi Faez Isa, CJ. Learned counsel states that FIR No.1154 was
registered at Police Station Kalu Khan on 20 December 2022 wherein
a group of unknown persons were mentioned for committing dacoity
in the complainant’s house. Learned counsel submits that the two
persons whose description was provided in the FIR did not match the
description of the petitioner and that he was falsely implicated as he
was already in the illegal detention of the Police.
2.
Pursuant to notice issued on 5 December 2023 the
complainant is present and seeks time to engage a counsel. This is a
bail matter where the accused is in Jail and sufficient notice has
been given, therefore, the complainant’s request for adjournment
cannot be accommodated. The learned Additional Advocate General
(‘AAG’) opposes bail.
3.
The FIR states that three sub-machine guns (SMGs)/7.62 bore
weapons and one 9 mm pistol, gold ornaments and mobile phones
were stolen when the dacoity was committed. In view of the fact that
the description of the petitioner was not mentioned in the FIR, this
brings into question the identification parade. And none of the stolen
goods were recovered from the petitioner which makes this case one
of further inquiry. Therefore, the petitioner is granted bail in the sum
of fifty thousand rupees (Rs.50,000) upon provision of bail bonds and
one surety in the said amount to the satisfaction of the Trial Court by
1. Crl.P.188-P of 2023.doc
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converting this petition into an appeal and allowed by setting aside
the impugned order.
4.
During the hearing the Investigating Officer (‘IO’) was asked
whether he had inquired from the complainant or the owner of the
stolen firearms to produce their licences and we were told that this
was not done; a sad reflection on the manner in which the
investigation was carried out. We then asked the complainant
whether the stolen firearms were licensed and he produced photo
copy of a piece of paper, which is reproduced hereunder:
‘TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
Mr. Haleem Khan s/o Hakeem Khan r/o Bali Khel
Ismaile, District Swabi, CNIC No. 16202-0972044-7 to
carry his own Weapon 7.62 Bore (Rifle) No. 2523103 for
his self protection. He may be provided all legal help
when needed in the jurisdiction of his fields. He will not
display the weapon nor shall violate the provisions of
section 144 Cr.PC.
(N.B not transferable not to be photo stated
Validity 03 months with effect from the date of
issue 23 June 2014
-sd-
(Muhammad Saeed) PSP
Deputy Inspector General of Police,
Mardan Region-I, Mardan
No.1891/PA
Dated 23.6.2014’
We cannot ignore the above document, which had been produced
before us in Court, which purports to be a license of a sub-machine
gun (SMG) which is a prohibited bore weapon. Notifications are also
issued by the government exempting the requirement of obtaining
licenses or permitting licenses for prohibited bore weapons to certain
categories of persons, including Chief Justices, Judges, Ministers,
Parliamentarians, as mentioned in Schedule I of the Arms Rules,
1924.
5.
The above has raised the following questions:
(1)
Under what legal authority had the Deputy Inspector
General of Police, Mardan Region-I, Mardan issued the
said document which purports to be a license to carry an
SMG, which is a prohibited bore weapon?
(2)
Whether licenses of SMG and other prohibited bore
weapons can be issued?
1. Crl.P.188-P of 2023.doc
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(3)
If the answer to the above is in the affirmative, the
applicable law and procedure, and the person(s) who can
issue exemptions/licenses?
(4)
The number of licenses, including permits, issued with
regard to SMGs and other prohibited bore weapons.
(5)
The approximate number of SMGs and other prohibited
bore weapons in private use in the country?
(6)
Whether exempting certain categories of persons or
granting them the right to obtain licenses for SMGs and
other prohibited bore weapons accords with Article 25 of
the Constitution, which mandates that all citizens are
equal before the law?
(7)
Whether enabling the easy availability of SMGs and other
prohibited bore weapons accords with Article 9, the
Fundamental Right to life guaranteed by the
Constitution?
6.
The office is directed to make a separate file and title it ‘SubMachine Guns and other Prohibited Bore Weapons’ and register it as
a constitution petition under Article 184(3) of the Constitution with
regard to paragraph 4 onwards. The matter prima facie is one of
public importance with regard to the enforcement of Fundamental
Rights, including Articles 9 and 25 of the Constitution, therefore, it
be placed for consideration of the Committee constituted under
Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act, 2023.
7.
In the meanwhile notices be issued to the Secretary Interior,
Home Secretaries and Inspector Generals of Police of the provinces,
each of whom should separately submit their replies to the noted
questions within one month. Notices be also issued to the AttorneyGeneral for Pakistan and the Advocate-Generals of the provinces in
terms of Order XXVIIA of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908.
Chief Justice
ISLAMABAD
17 January 2024
Judge
Syed Farhan Ali
Judge
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