PLJ 2024 Cr.C. (Note) 210
[Lahore High Court, Multan Bench]
Present: Anwaar ul Haq Pannun, J.
MUHAMMAD AJMAL--Petitioner
versus
STATE, etc.--Respondents
Crl. Misc. No. 9408-B of 2023, decided on 30.1.2024.
Criminal Procedure Code, 1898 (V of 1898)--
----S. 497--Control of Narcotic Substances Act, (XXV of 1997),
S. 9(1)3(c)--
این ایس ترمیمی ایکٹ 2022 کی دفعہ 9(1)3(سی) کے تحت زیادہ سے زیادہ سزا 14 سال ہے لیکن اگر چرس کی مقدار 1000 گرام سے بڑھ کر 4999 گرام ہو تو اس میں کم از کم 9 سال کی سزا دی جائے گی۔ ضمانت کے مرحلے میں کم سزا پر غور کیا جانا چاہئے - چونکہ یہ دوسری درخواست ہے اور 2023 کے فوجداری مسودہ نمبر 7493-بی والے درخواست گزار کی سابقہ درخواست کو 27.11.2023 کے حکم کے ذریعہ اس عدالت سے واپس لے لیا گیا تھا اور اس معاملے کی سماعت تین ماہ کی مدت کے اندر مکمل کرنے کی ہدایت جاری کی گئی تھی لیکن اب تک ٹرائل کورٹ اس پر فیصلہ نہیں کرسکی۔ جیل حکام کی رپورٹ کے مطابق درخواست گزار ہیپاٹائٹس سی کا معروف کیس ہے- درخواست گزار اپنی گرفتاری کے بعد سے سلاخوں کے پیچھے ہے اور اس کی مزید قید استغاثہ کے لیے منافع بخش نہیں ہوگی- استغاثہ کے شواہد ریکارڈ کرنے کے بعد ٹرائل کورٹ اس کے جرم کا تعین کرے گی۔
Post-arrest bail, grant of--Allegation of--Recovery of charas--Under Section 9(1)3(c) C.N.S Amendment Act, 2022, maximum sentence provided is 14 years but shall not less than nine years if quantity of charas extends from 1000 grams to 4999 grams, thus does not attract prohibitory clause of Section 497, Cr.P.C. because for grant of bail, lesser sentence is to be considered at bail stage--Since it is second petition and, earlier petition of petitioner bearing Criminal Misc. No. 7493-B of 2023 was withdrawn from this Court vide order dated 27.11.2023 and a direction was issued to conclude trial of this case within a period of three months but so far, same could not be decided by trial Court--Moreover, as per report of jail authorities, petitioner is a known case of Hepatitis-C--The petitioner is behind bars since his arrest and his further incarceration would not be lucrative to prosecution--His culpability would be determined by learned trial Court, after recording prosecution’s evidence. [Para 4 & 5] A & B
2012 SCMR 573 & 2020 PCr.LJ 657.
M/s. Malik Zafar Mehboob Langeryal and Tauqeer Abbas, Advocates for Petitioner.
Mr. Muhammad Abdul Wadood, Addl. P.G for State.
Date of hearing: 30.1.2024.
Order
By means of instant petition, the petitioner has prayed for his release by way of grant of post-arrest bail in a case registered vide FIR No. 989, dated 17.09.2023, offence under Section 9 (1)3(c) of the Control of Narcotic Substances Act, 1997, Amended 2022 (herein after to be called as C.N.S Amendment Act, 2022), with Police Station Khangarh, District Mozaffargarh.
2. Precisely the allegation against the petitioner is that on the aforesaid date, he was captured by the police contingents and on his personal search, 1700 grams Charas was allegedly recovered from his possession which was wrapped in a polythene shopping bag.
3. Heard. Record perused.
4. Under Section 9(1)3(c) C.N.S Amendment Act, 2022, the maximum sentence provided is 14 years but shall not less than nine years if quantity of charas extends from 1000 grams to 4999 grams, thus does not attract the prohibitory clause of Section 497, Cr.P.C. because for grant of bail, lesser sentence is to be considered at bail stage. Reliance in this regard is placed upon “Jamal-Ud-Din alias Zubair Khan versus The State” (2012 SCMR 573), “Arshad Nadeem and 2 others versus The State and another” [2020 P. Cr. L.J 657 (Lahore Multan Bench)]. Moreover, the learned. Prosecutor has not been able to distinguish the case of the petitioner from the case of accused who had been granted bail by Hon’ble Supreme Court of Pakistan vide order dated 22.11.2023 rendered in Criminal Petition No. 1192 of 2023 titled as “Zahid Sarfraz Gill vs. The State”, from whom 1833 grams Charas was recovered.
5. Apart from above, since it is second petition and, earlier petition of the petitioner bearing Criminal. Misc. No. 7493-B of 2023 was withdrawn from this Court vide order dated 27.11.2023 and a direction was issued to conclude the trial of this case within a period of three months but so far, the same could not be decided by the learned trial Court. Moreover, as per report of jail authorities, the petitioner is a known case of Hepatitis-C. The petitioner is behind the bars since his arrest and his further incarceration would not be lucrative to the prosecution. His culpability would be determined by learned trial Court, after recording prosecution’s evidence. Thus, the petition in hand is allowed subject to furnishing bail bonds by the petitioner in the sum of Rs. 100,000/- (rupees one lac) with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of learned trial Court and he is admitted post arrest bail. The above observations are tentative in nature and would not be taken as conclusive.
(A.A.K.) Petition allowed
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