ORDER SHEET

IN THE HIGH COURT OF SINDH AT KARACHI

Criminal Bail Application No.543 of 2025

DATE

ORDER WITH SIGNATUREs OF JUDGEs

 

For hearing of bail application

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14.04.2025

            Mr. Aamir Mansoob Qureshi, advocate for applicant

            Ms. Rubina Qadir, D.P.G.

            Mr. Mujahid Ali Awan, advocate for complainant

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            Applicant Muhammad Umar Sheeraz son of Shahid Nawaz seeks post arrest bail in FIR No.451/2024, registered at P.S. Tipu Sultan, Karachi for offence under section 489-F, PPC, after rejection of his bail plea by learned Additional Sessions Judge-VIII Karachi South.

 

2.         Facts of case are that complainant Muhammad Adnan is outdoor rider at Vision Shipping & Logistics and also works with US Enterprise in Freight Services Sector. Owners of said companies, namely, Kamran Warraich and Hanzala Latif have business transactions with him. Cheque bearing No.1997716488 dated 16.10.2024 of Rs.1,800,000/- was issued for freight services, which on presentation was dishonoured on account of insufficient funds, hence the subject FIR.

 

3.         Learned counsel for the applicants contended that the applicant is innocent and he has been falsely roped in this case against the actual facts and circumstances; that the applicant/accused has already settled the amount by way of online deposit in the account of M/s Vision Shipping and Logistics; that the FIR has been lodged by unauthorized person; that the F.I.R is delayed for about 2 months; that the alleged offences do not fall within prohibitory clause of Section 497 Cr.PC.   

 

4.         Conversely, learned D.P.G appearing for the State assisted by learned Advocate for complainant vehemently opposed the grant of bail on the grounds that the applicant has issued cheque, which on presentation was dishnoured. Counsel for complainant further added that complainant was duly authorized to lodge subject FIR against the applicant/accused.

 

5.         I have heard the arguments advanced by learned counsel for parties and perused the record available on the record.

 

6          Admittedly, there is delay of more than two months in registration of F.I.R without furnishing plausible explanation. The cheque in question is alleged to have been issued by to the Vision Shipping & Logistics and not to the complainant and, as per learned counsel for applicant, the cheque amount has already been deposited online to the account of the said Company, such aspect of the case certainly calls for further probe and it would be decided by the learned trial Court after recording of evidence during trial and at this juncture this factum requires further inquiry into the guilt of the applicant.  Furthermore, the offences with which the applicant stands charged fall within non-prohibitory clause of Section 497 Cr.PC, maximum punishment whereof is three years. All these circumstances, prima-facie, establish that the case against applicant falls within the purview of Section 497(2) Cr.PC, entitling him to grant of bail on merits. Therefore, applicant/accused Muhammad Umar Sheeraz son of Shahid Nawaz is admitted to post arrest bail, subject to furnishing solvent surety in the sum of Rs.200,000/- (Rupees Two Hundred Thousand Only) and P.R. bond in the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial Court.

 

7.         Needless to say, that the above observations are tentative in nature, and shall not prejudice the case of either party at trial.

 

8.         Instant criminal bail application stands disposed of in the above terms.

 

                                                                                                      J U D G E

 

Gulsher/PS