IN THE HIGH COURT OF SINDH, KARACHI

 

Criminal Appeal No. 316 of 2012

Faisal son of Nooruddin.…...……………………..……………….….Appellant

Versus

The State…………..…………………………..…………………....Respondent

 

Date of Hearing & Judgment :-      21.11.2017

 

Appellant in person

Mr. Muntazir Mehdi, DPG for the State

 

J U D G M E N T

 

FAHIM AHMED SIDDIQUI, J: The appellant is produced by his surety Mst. Nafeesa Begum who is also his mother and requests for condonation of his absence on the ground that counsel for appellant could not communicate the date of hearing to him. Absconce of appellant is condoned and BW issued against him is hereby recalled.

2.         It appears that instant appeal is pending since 2012 while from perusal of impugned judgment dated 09.12.2012 passed by learned Ist Additional Sessions Judge Malir Karachi, it appears that appellant was convicted for offence under Section 394 PPC and was sentenced to suffer RI for 04 years and to pay fine of Rs.5000/- and in case of default thereof, to further undergo SI for one month.

3.         The case against the appellant is that he was arrested by the police while snatching mobile phone of the complainant but his companion succeeded to escape from the scene.

3.         The appellant states that he has been acquitted in the companion case registered vide FIR No.93/2008 registered under Section 13-D of Pakistan Arms Ordinance, 1965 at PS Ibrahim Hydery and now there remains the instant case. He also pleaded his innocence.

4.         Learned DPG submits that the appellant is involved in other cases and sentence awarded to him by learned trial Court is correct. He opposed the instsant criminal appeal.

5.         I have heard the arguments and gone through the available record. In the instant case, the appellant has been convicted and awarded sentence of RI for 04 years as well as fine of Rs.5,000/-, in default whereof he has to serve SI for 01 month more. As per report of Jail Superintendent, the appellant has served more than an year’s sentence before releasing on bail.

6.         I have gone through the depositions and it appears that the witnesses are firm and there was no major contradiction in their instance taken before learned trial court. However, the appellant present in court is a young man and considering the offence specially when the appellant has been acquitted in the companion case, I consider that quantum of sentence is excessive. Therefore, while dismissing the instant appeal, I reduce the sentence as already undergone including the sentence in lieu of fine. The appellant is present on bail, his bail bond stands cancelled and surety is discharged.

 

 

 

                                                                                                J U D G E