ORDER SHEET

IN THE HIGH COURT OF SINDH AT KARACHI

Criminal Appeal No.164 of 2020

DATE

ORDER WITH SIGNATURE OF JUDGE.

 

            Disposed of matter

1.      For orders on M.A. No.5862/2026 (U/A)

2.      For orders on M.A. No.5384/2026

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16.04.2026

 

            Mr. Raj Ali Wahid Kunwar, advocate for applicant/legal heirs

            Mr. Muhammad Ahmed, Assistant Attorney General

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            Instant appeal was disposed of in terms of judgment dated 25.05.2022 whereby appeal filed by appellant Syed Naeemuddin Ahmed was dismissed on merits with direction to take custody of appellant and be remanded to Central Prison, Karachi to serve out his remaining sentence awarded to him by learned trial Court through impugned judgment.

            At the time of announcement of judgment, appellant was not present and even he was called absent at the time of arguments. Appellant is still absconder and he did not surrender to serve out his remaining sentence.

            Appellant was admitted on bail by this Court vide order dated 24.03.2020, subject to furnishing solvent surety in the sum of Rs.500,000/- and P.R. bond in the like amount to the satisfaction of the Nazir of this Court and one Syed Moinuddin Ahmed son of Syed Shafiuddin Ahmed furnished required surety by depositing lease deed in respect of Ground+2 RCC constructed house bearing No.7/136-A, measuring 60 square yards, situated in Liaquatabad, Karachi and he also executed surety Bond No.82879 dated 24.03.2020.

            It has come on record that said Syed Moinuddin Ahmed son of Syed Shafiuddin Ahmed was father of appellant, who has since expired. Legal heirs of said Syed Moinuddin Ahmed have moved application bearing CMA No.5384/2026 for return/exchange of surety under Section 561-A, Cr.PC. During pendency of said application, counsel for applicants/legal heirs of surety has filed statement. Contents of the statement are reproduced as under:

“It is most respectfully submitted to this Honorable Court on behalf of the above-named Applicants that since the Appellant has absconded after being granted bail and was not present at the time of final judgment when his appeal was dismissed, naturally the surety amount settled at PKR 500,000/-has to be forfeited to the state.

The gentleman who stood surety has now expired, consequently his legal heirs i.e. the Applicants respectfully request that this Honorable Court may allow for the property to be placed by the Nazir for a public auction and he may fetch a price. It is respectfully submitted that if the legal heirs are able to arrange a higher price or are able to match the auction price, the property may be sold off by the Nazir on behalf of the gentleman who stood surety and is now deceased.

It is then prayed that the money recovered from the sale may be distributed to the legal heirs of the deceased surety on verification and submission of a proper succession certificate obtained from NADRA. A Family Registration Certificate has already been annexed with the application whereby the surety is being sought to be returned.

It is also prayed to this Honorable Court that the amount of PKR 500,000 that has to be forfeited to the state may be deducted from the amount or may be deducted from the share of the absconding appellant. Furthermore, in such a scenario, the remaining amount of the absconding Appellant, if any, may be kept with the Nazir till such time that the absconding Appellant decides to submit himself to this court and / or the jail authorities to continue the remaining portion of his sentence.”

 

            Learned Assistant Attorney General has recorded no objection on such proposal.

            In view of above, we do not see any impediment to issue directions to the Nazir of this Court to make arrangement for auction of the aforesaid property being Ground+2 RCC constructed house bearing No.7/136-A, measuring 60 square yards, situated in Liaquatabad, Karachi. Listed application is allowed. The Nazir is directed that after proper verification of mutation of record of rights in favour of legal heirs of deceased Syed Moinuddin Ahmed in respect of the aforesaid property, arrange auction of the said property in accordance with law and after having auctioned the said property deduct the surety amount as well as expenditure incurred on auction proceedings and distribute the remaining auction proceeds amongst the legal heirs as per their respective shares in the said property in accordance with law.

            Listed applications are accordingly disposed of.

 

                                                                                                                         J U D G E

 

                                                                                                J U D G E

Gulsher/PS