ORDER SHEET

IN THE HIGH COURT OF SINDH AT KARACHI

Criminal Miscellaneous Application No.1024 of 2024

DATE

ORDER WITH SIGNATUREs OF JUDGEs

 

For hearing of main case

-----------------------------------------------------

16.05.2025

            Mr. Ahmed Hussain Jokhio, advocate for applicant

            Mr. Tahir Hussain Mangi, A.P.G.

            ------------------------------------

           

            Applicant/complainant has impugned order dated 30.09.2024, passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge-III, Karachi South whereby respondents/ accused were admitted on bail. Complainant has filed application for cancellation of bail under Section 497(5), Cr.PC before learned trial Court, which was too dismissed vide order dated 30.09.2024, hence this criminal miscellaneous application for cancellation of bail.

 

            Learned counsel for applicant submits that learned trial Court has not considered the settled principles for grant of pre-arrest bail to the respondents/ accused and the respondents have failed to make out their case for pre-arrest bail despite that they were admitted to extra-ordinary relief in the shape of grant of pre-arrest bail, therefore, their bail granting order may be recalled and they may be taken into custody.

 

            Today, Mr. Ammad Ghaffar, advocate, files Vakalatnama on behalf of private respondents and supports the impugned order dated 30.09.2024. He submits that learned trial Court while granting pre-arrest to respondents/accused had not committed any illegality and order passed by learned trial Court is in accordance with law.

 

            Learned A.P.G. has pointed out that applicant/complainant raised the same grounds which were available at the time of granting pre-arrest bail to the respondents/accused, therefore, on the same grounds bail cannot be cancelled.

 

            Heard learned counsel for applicant, learned counsel for respondents as well as learned A.P.G. and perused the material available on record.

 

            It is the case of applicant/complainant that respondent No.4/accused Shazia alias Iqra has contracted second marriage with respondent No.1/accused Muhammad Yasir, without getting divorce/khulla, therefore, she has committed Zina. The relevant portion of the order is reproduced below:

“On perusal of the record, it appears that in view of statement of the victim recorded under section 164, Cr.PC, applicability of Section 496-A, PPC is yet to be determined at the trial. The facts of divorce, Rukhsati and pregnancy require deeper appreciation which is not permissible at bail stage. The complainant and parents of victim are annoyed with the second marriage of the victim with the applicant/accused, therefore, mala fide on their part could not be ruled out.”

 

            In view of above, it is clear cut case of further inquiry and pre-arrest bail has been granted by learned trial Court to the respondents/accused in accordance with law. The alleged offence does not fall within the ambit of prohibitory clause of Section 497, Cr.PC and rule in such cases is bail and its refusal is an exception, as held by apex Court in the case of Muhammad Tanveer versus State (PLD 2017 SC 733). It is well settled law that considerations for grant of bail and those for its cancellation are entirely different. Reliance is placed on the cases of Saeedullah & 2 Others versus The State (2023 SCMR 1397), Samiullah and another versus Laiq Zada and another (2020 SCMR 1115) and Shahid Arshad versus Muhamad Naqi Butt and 2 others (1976 SCMR 360). It has not come on record that the respondents/accused have not violated any of the terms and conditions of bail granted to them by learned trial Court, therefore, instant criminal miscellaneous application is misconceived, the same is accordingly dismissed.

 

J U D G E

Gulsher/PS