IN THE HIGH COURT OF SINDH BENCH AT SUKKUR

Spl Crl. Jail Appeal No.D-187 of 2017

 

Date

                            Order with signature of Judge

                                      

                                      For hearing of main case.

 

Date of hearing              15-08-2024

Date of Judgment.                    15-08-2024

 

 

                    Mr. Sohail Ahmed Khoso, Advocate for appellant.

                    Mr. Aftab Ahmed Shar, Addl. P.G, Sindh for the State.

 

 

                                      J U D G M E N T

 

MEHMOOD A. KHAN, J;           Through this Special Crl. Jail Appeal, the appellant Saeed Alam son of Arsalan Khan Malakdin Khail Pathan has impugned the judgment dated 14-11-2017 passed by learned Sessions Judge/Special Judge (CNSA), Ghotki in Special Case No.57 of 2016 (re.The State Vs.Saeed Alam) for offence u/s 9-C of Control of Narcotics arising out of Crime No.20 of 2016 registered at Excise DIO Camp, Ubauro for recovery of 40 Kilograms of Charas. The appellant was tried and found guilty therefore, he was sentenced through the impugned judgment to undergo R.I for ‘Life’ and to pay fine of Rs.100,000/- (One lac) and in case of default in payment of fine he shall undergone simple imprisonment for Fine months more. Benefit of Section 382 Cr.P.C, was also extended to the appellants.

 

2.       Learned counsel for appellant while taking us through the evidence wherein though we have observed that the mashirs/official who have taken the illicit drugs for chemical examination was not examined submits that though on merits the appellant has a good prima facie case for acquittal, but the learned trial Court while passing the impugned judgment did not consider the evidence as well as the defence as put forth by the appellant. However, without arguing the appeal on merits, learned counsel prayed that he would not press the appeal against conviction if the sentence awarded to the appellant is reduced to the period which he has already undergone.

3.       Learned Additional Prosecutor General quite professionally conceded to the request made by learned counsel for the appellant for reduction of sentence to the one already undergone by the appellant.

4.       We have perused the record including the Jail Roll of the appellant. Accordingly to the learned counsel for the appellant, the total period, which the appellant has remained in jail, is about 07 years and 10 months excluding remissions.

5.       In our opinion, the appellant has already suffered adequate punishment. Accordingly, in the light of Judgment of the Lahore High Court in the case of Ghulam Murtaza (supra) and the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Ameer Zeb (Supra), while maintaining the conviction awarded by the trial Court in the instant case, the sentence awarded to the appellant is altered to the imprisonment which he has already undergone. However, the fine of Rs.100,000/- (One lac) is reduced to 11,000/- (Rupees Eleven Thousand) which shall be deposited by the appellant within a period of one month. In case of his failure to deposit the fine amount within the stipulated period, the same shall be recovered from him by the trial Court as arrears of land revenue or to undergo further simple imprisonment of one month. Appellant namely, Saeed Alam Pathan is confined in Jail, such intimation be sent to concerned Jail for compliance

6.       With above modification in the sentence, this Appeal stands dismissed.

                                                                                               J U D G E

                                                                                      J U D G E

 

                                                                                

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ihsan/*