ORDER SHEET

IN THE HIGH COURT OF SINDH AT KARACHI

Criminal Bail Application No.263 of 2026

[ Maqbool Ahmed & Others vs The State ]

DATE

ORDER WITH SIGNATUREs OF JUDGEs

 

For hearing of bail application

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10.02.2026

            Mr. Rashid Mehmood, advocate for applicants

            Mr. Sharafuddin Kanhar, A.P.G. & Ms. Rukhsana Qassim Mirjat, ADPP

            PI Habibullah and ASI Muhammad Qadeer of PS Steel Town

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            Applicant/accused Zulfiqar Ali son of Choudhry Bashir Ahmed seeks pre-arrest bail in FIR No.92/202, registered at P.S. Steel Town, for offence under Sections 506-B, 337H(ii), 337A(i), 34, PPC.

 

            It is alleged in the FIR that complainant is a practicing advocates and pursuing the cases against the applicant/accused, on which several times hot words were exchanged between the complainant and applicant. On 25.01.2026, applicant/accused called the complainant to settle the issues at Gulistan-e-Faisal where applicant/accused along with his companions attached on complainant and his friends and pointed pistol at them in which friend of complainant Mansoor Sahito sustained injuries at his right hand, hence the subject FIR.

 

            Learned counsel for applicant submits that applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case; that complainant is a practicing advocate and has managed this false FIR against the applicant; he has directly approached this case by way of instant criminal bail application on the ground that he is facing threats of humiliation and disgrace at the hands of complainant, who is a practicing advocate has very close relations with other lawyers; there is no medical evidence and ocular version as stated in FIR requires further inquiry.

 

            Notice issued to the complainant is returned served but he is called absent, without any intimation.

 

            On the other hand, learned A.P.G. opposed for grant of bail on the ground that applicant is nominated in the FIR and specific role has been assigned to him.

 

            Heard learned counsel for applicant, learned APG and have gone through the material available on record.

 

            This Court has concurrent jurisdiction to entertain pre-arrest bail directly in exceptional circumstances. In the present case, complainant is a practicing advocate and has very close relations with the legal fraternity and the applicant is facing threat of humiliation and disgrace at the hands of complainant party upon his approaching the concerned Court for pre-arrest bail. From tentative assessment of the material available on record, it appears that all the sections applied in the FIR are bailable, except section 506/2, PPC, which too does not fall within the ambit of prohibitory clause of Section 497, Cr.PC, hence the case of the applicant calls for further inquiry in terms of Section 497(2), Cr.PC; that in case of pre-arrest bail, merits cannot be considered as held by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in the cases of Muhammad Ramzan versus Zafrullah (1986 SCMR 1380) and Muhammad Ijaz versus The State (2022 SCMR 1271); Therefore, interim pre-arrest bail granted to applicant above named by this Court vide order dated 27.01.2026 is confirmed on the same terms and conditions. He is directed to join investigation/trial forthwith.

 

The observations made herein above are tentative in nature, the same would not prejudice the case of either party at trial.

 

            The instant criminal bail application is accordingly disposed of.

 

                                                                                                            J U D G E

Gulsher/PS