IN THE HIGH COURT OF SINDH

AT KARACHI

 

      PRESENT: MR. JUSTICE SAJJAD ALI SHAH, &

                       MR. JUSTICE SALAHUDDIN PANHWAR

 

REFERENCE NO.5/2010

(Reference made by Additional Sessions Judge, Kandiaro)

……………..

 

CRIMINAL JAIL APPEAL NO.401/2010

Appellants    :     Qadan alias Qadir Bux & another,

                           Through: Mr. A. Q. Halepota, advocate.

 

Respondent  :     The State,

Through: Mr. Ali Haider Saleem, A.P.G. 

 

……………

 

Date of hearing:  20thNovember, 20th and 23rd December, 2013.

 

 

JUDGMENT

                                   

SALAHUDDIN PANHWAR, J: Through this appeal, appellants have assailed judgment dated  31st May 2010, in Sessions case No.158  of 2004 (Re-The State V. Qadan alias Qadir Bux & others) whereby the trial court convicted  both appellants u/s 303(b) PPC and sentenced to death, coupled with compensation of Rs.100,000/- (each accused), payable to legal heirs of deceased; while through same judgment co-accused Abdul Hafeez was acquitted. Whereas, learned trial Court has sent Reference under section 174 Cr.P.C. for confirmation of death sentence.

2.                     Succinctly, relevant facts of the prosecution case are that on 05.05.2004, complainant Hafiz Ajeeb-u- Rehman lodged F.I.R, contending therein that “complainant’s cousin Amjad Hussain was working as labourer in Karachi, and about six months back accused Abdul Hafeez and others had a clan dispute with complainant party, thus they were extending threats that they will commit murder of Amjad Hussain. On 04.05.2004, in the morning, Amjad Hussain had returned from Karachi, and was available in house. At night, after taking meal, Amjad Hussain intended to visit the village, while he was prevented, due to enmity, but he insisted that he is going due to call of nature in the garden of Ghulam Muhammad and will return back soon. It is further contended that  after some time they heard cries on which complainant alongwith Muhammad Moosa and Gulshad Agro and other co-villagers rushed there ,while raising Hakals (Lalkara); on moon light and torch lights , they identified accused Qadan alias Qader Bux Agro , armed with gun, Nadeem Agro, having Danda  and they were causing butt, barrel and Danda wafts to Amjad Hussain , but on reaching complainant party they fled away, while Amjad Hussain fallen down. Complainant party found injuries on neck, chest, head, and near ear; blood was oozing; subsequently complainant party brought injured Amjad Hussain for medical treatment at Kandiaro hospital but he succumbed to his injuries; therefore complainant lodged F.I.R that Accused Qadan alias Qader Bux and Nadeem Agro has committed this murder.

3.                     It is further revealed that after lodgment of F.I.R; police conducted the investigation thereby, inspected crime seen, dead body, prepared such mashirnama’s; secured blood stained bushes and one live cartridge of 12 bore from place of incident; arrested both appellants from link road leading from Muhbat Dero to village Kouro who produced crime weapons i.e Danda and gun. Both eye witnesses of incident namely Gulshad and Mohammad Moosa through their 161 Cr.PC statement nominated accused Qadan alias Qadir Bux, Nadeem, Mehrab and Hubdar but later both these eye witnesses in their statement dated 17.5.2004 exonerated accused Hubdar and Mehrab, however, involved accused Abdul Hafeez. After completing investigation, police submitted the challan / charge sheet whereby sending accused Qadan alias Qadar Bux and Nadeem to face their trial while accused Abdul Hafeez was shown as let-off, who was subsequently joined as an accused.

4.                     After compliance of provision of Section 265(c ) Cr.PC, the charge was framed against both appellants and co-accused Abdul Hafeez as Ex.3 to 5 to which they pleaded not guilty and claimed their trial vide their respective pleas.

5.                     In order to prove its case the prosecution examined complainant Ajeeb-ur-Rehman at Ex.67 who produced the FIR at Ex.6/A; PW-2 eye witness Gulshad at Ex.7; PW Mashir Sohrab at Ex.98 who produced mashirnama of inspection of dead body, inquest report, mashirnama of place of vardat, mashirnama of arrest of both accused, mashirnama of recovery of Gun from accused Qadan alias Qadir Bux at Ex.8/A to 8/E respectively; PW- eye witness Mohammad Moosa was given up; PW Dr. Mohammad Yaqoob Channar was examined at Ex.10 who produced post mortem report at Ex10/A; Tapedar Chanesar Khan at Ex.11 who produced sketch of vardat at Es.11/A; I.O ASI Wali Mohammad Bughio at Ex.12 who produced mashirnama of recovery of Danda from accused Nadeem and chemical examiner’s report at E.12/A and 12/B respectively and lastly crops bearer HC Mohammad Motiyal at Ex.13, who produced the receipt of dead body at Ex.13/A. Thereafter, side was closed by prosecution vide statement at Ex.14.

6.                     The statements of accused person(s) were recorded under section 342 Cr.P.C respectively, wherein they professed their innocence. However, none of the accused persons came forward to examine himself on Oath or to lead evidence in his defence, as provided under section 340(2), Cr.P.C.

7.                     Learned counsel, appearing for the appellants, has contended following plea(s):-

(1).           That there has been a delay of more than three hours in reporting / lodging the FIR though the police station happened to be only at the distance of 2 K.Ms;

(2).           That conduct of the alleged eye witnesses of the incident has remained questionable from very beginning for simple reason that they remained introducing and exonerating the persons from the offence hence testimony of such persons was never sufficient to hold a conviction;

(3).           Prosecution did not examine the PW Moosa though he was eye witness of the incident and thus with-holding of such material witness should result in extending a benefit in favour of the appellants;

(4).           Prosecution claimed that alleged incident was witnessed under torch lights which were handed over to the I.O but no such torch light was ever produced during course of trial hence such aspect of the case was causing serious dent towards prosecution story;

(5).           Both witnesses of ocular account do not conform each other regarding motive for the offence as one witness stated that it was due to declaration of deceased as KARO while other eye witness Gulshad stated motive as brothery(Clan) dispute;

(6).           The recovery of the crime weapons is not admissible and cannot be used against the appellants.

(7).           That incident was in fact, an unseen incident and complainant party falsely knitted the story due to enmity with the appellants.  Reliance in support of the arguments was placed on the case laws reported as Tayyab Hussain Shah vs. the State (2000 SCMR 683), NLR 2001 Cr. 198, Muhammad Afzal alias Abdullah & another vs. the State (2009 SCMR 436), Ali Gohar & others vs. the State (1986 SCMR 730), Habibullah & others vs. the State (PLD 1969 SC 127) and,  Ismail & others vs. the State (1983 P CrLJ 823).

7.                     Learned APG while refuting the contentions raised by rival side, argued that judgment of the learned trial court is well reasoned; there has been pleaded nothing on record to substantiate false involvement of the appellants / convicts in the instant case; the complainant party is closely related with the deceased hence chances of false involvement is not probable; hence trial court has rightly convicted them.  

8.                We have carefully gone through the entire evidence and considered the submissions made at the bar before us in light of the same.

9.                Scanning of the available record shows that incident is reported to have taken place on 04.5.2004 at 10.00 p.m which was reported by the PW-complainant Hafiz Ajeeb-ur-Rehman with police station Muhabat Dero on 05.5.2004 at 0130 hours. This shows that the matter was reported with the police within 3 and half hours of the incident. The police station was located at the distance of 2/3 K.M. The complainant Hafiz Ajeeb-ur-Rehman has claimed himself to be the cousin of the deceased which claim has never been challenged / questioned by the defence. A time of three and half hours cannot be taken as a delay in reporting the matter with a view to allow deliberation and consultation on part of the complainant party, particularly when it was claimed by the complainant party that they first tried to carry the deceased to hospital but he succumbed to injuries in the way so the dead body was brought back at the village. It is against the human behaviour and experience that effect (s) and emotion (s) of witnessing murder of one’s blood-relation will be influenced over other consideration particularly when one (he) does not have sufficient reason for deliberation and consultation. This is so which has resulted in wording the legal proposition that promptness in reporting matter of murder (s) always lessens chances of deliberation and consultation which, in such matters (murder cases), let complainant party for exaggeration or widening the net.   Even otherwise, the general principle is that delay by itself in lodging the FIR is not material. Factors to be considered by the Courts are firstly that such delay stands reasonably explained and secondly that the prosecution has not derived any undue advantage through the delay involved. Reference can be made to the case of Muhammad Nadeem v. State reported in 2011 SCMR 872. 

10.              To examine the plea that complainant party remained changing their stances with regard to involvement of number of persons in the murder of the deceased, we have meticulously examined the available material. To prove the ocular account the prosecution has produced the evidence of two witnesses only i.e complainant Ajeeb-ur-Rehman and PW-2 Gulshad. The examination-in-chief of both these witnesses is reproduced hereunder:-

Complainant Ajeeb-ur-Rehman

Deceased Amjad Hussain was my cousin. PW Gulshad and Mohammad Moosa are my maternal uncles. This incident took place on 04.5.2004. It was about 9.00 pm, and I was available at house of deceased Amjad alongwith Mohammad Moosa and Gulshad Ahmed and were chit-chatting with the deceased Amjad Hussain. The deceased Amjad Hussain told us that he was going out of house to attend the call of nature, to which, we prevented him not to go out because of the enmity with the accused who had leveled allegation of Karap against the deceased. The deceased went out side of the house to attend the call of nature. In the meantime we heard the cries of deceased to which I, PWs Gulshad and Mohammad Moosa and co-villagers rushed there. We went at the garden of Ghulam Mohammad Agro where we saw the accused Qadan armed with gun and accused Nadeem armed with Danda were giving blows to the deceased with butt of the gun and Danda. The accused after giving the blows to deceased fled away and we found the deceased lying unconscious. We ……… the deceased to Taluka Hospital, Kandiaro who died on the way to hospital. We thereafter took the deceased to the house where left the dead body alongwith the P.Ws, then I went to police station Muhabatdero where I lodged the F.I.R. The accused have committed the murder of deceased Amjad at the instance of accused Abdul Hafeez.

PW-2 Gulshad

I know the complainant Mujeeb Rehman who is my relative. Deceased Amjad Hussain was son of my sister. The incident took place on 04.5.2004 it was 10.00 pm, when I alongwith complainant and Mohammad Moosa were present at the house of the deceased Amjad Hussain and we were chit chatting with the deceased Amjad Hussain. In the mean time the deceased told us that he was going to attend the call of nature out side of the house. After few minutes we heard the cries of deceased to which we rushed and when reached at the garden of Ghulam Mohammad where we saw accused Qadan with a gun while Nadeem with a Danda were giving blows to the deceased with the butt, barrel and Danda. Thereafter, accused ran away. We saw the deceased lying unconscious. We shifted the deceased for the medical treatment to hospital, who died on the way. We brought the dead body to our house. The complainant went to P.S for FIR. Police recorded my statement. The accused have committed the murder of deceased at the instance of accused Abdul Hafeez over the dispute on brothery matters. The accused were annoyed with the deceased were issuing threats to him for the dire consequences. Accused present in the court are same.

                  

The perusal of the above shows that these witnesses strongly remained sticking with the version / stand of the FIR but introduced acquitted accused Abdul Hafeez with an allegation at the close of their examination-in-chief that “murder was at instance of accused Abdul Hafeez”. The perusal of the FIR shows that the acquitted accused Abdul Hafeez was not named in the FIR by the complainant. It is not the case of the defence that the complainant party ever tried to substitute or replace the persons, nominated in the FIR but on the other hand it stood patent and evident from the examination of these evidence that they firmly stood with their first stand (FIR), which was reported within 3 and half hours of incident and only appellants were named. From examination of the evidence of these witnesses surfaced that they strongly stuck regarding every minute details, so given in the FIR i.e:

i)                  the place of company of complainant party with deceased Amjad Hussain ;

ii)               the place of occurrence;

iii)             manner whereby witness reached at the place of occurrence;

iv)             weapon (s) with which the appellants were armed;

v)                role (s) assigned to them;

 

11.              Here it is necessary to add that a contradiction is not material unless it is grave in nature and causes a serious dent in the prosecution claim. Statement of the witnesses have to be read as a whole and the court should not pick up a sentence in isolation from the entire statement and ignoring its proper reference, use the same against or in favour of a party.

12.              We are conscious that in our society a trend of widening the net has developed but such could come only when the defence comes with a plea of deliberation on part of the complainant. Even otherwise a blood relation is not supposed to substitute the real culprits with innocence while reporting the matter of murder of his blood-relation.

13.              It is pertinent to mention that the very conduct of the said witnesses in firmly sticking with their very first stand (FIR) and also speaks so, as it is evident from the evidence of these witnesses that they did not claim the presence of the acquitted accused Abdul Hafeez at the place of incident and even not attempted to attribute any specific role to such acquitted accused Abdul Hafeez. Thus, reference to acquittal of the accused Abdul Hafeez alone cannot be taken sufficient to disbelieve the evidence of these witnesses, particularly when the principle of safe Criminal Administration of Justice no where insists that mere acquittal of one or more accused should result in acquittal of all. This is so for the simple reason that principle of “falsus in uno falsus in omnibus” is no more applicable. The reference, if any, can well be made to case of Iftikhar Hussain and another Vs. state (2004 SCMR 1185) wherein it was held that:

          “It is true that principle of falsus in uno falsus in omnibus is no more applicable as on following this principle, the evidence of a witness is to be accepted or discarded as a whole for the purpose of convicting or acquitting an accused persons, therefore, keeping in view prevailing circumstances, the Courts for safe administration of justice follow the principle of appraisal of evidence i.e sifting of grain out of chaff i.e if an ocular testimony of a witness is to be disbelieved against a particular set of accused and is to be believed against another set of the accused facing the same trial then the Court must search for independent corroboration on material particulars as has been held in number of cases decided by the superior Courts”

14.              Now we would come to the plea of non-examination of other eye-witness of the case namely Moosa. It would suffice to say It is the prerogative of prosecution to produce evidence as may be necessary to prove the charge and may give up the witnesses after sufficient evidence is brought on record because as a rule of Criminal jurisprudence, prosecution evidence is not tested on the basis of the quantify but qualify of evidence which is to be insisted. It is always within the wisdom of either party to produce evidence of as many witnesses as are found necessary by it to prove a certain charge or fact. Exercise of such prerogative should not always be taken as adverse particularly where the rival party could, well within its substantial right, bring any such witness as their witness. A reference to provision of Section 265-F(7) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 would make it clear that within meaning of such provision the accused can competently ask for examination of any witness or production of any document. We are guided on this point from the case of Saeed Khan and 5 others v. The State (2008 SCMR 849) wherein it was held that:

          “It is prerogative of prosecution to produce evidence as may be necessary, to prove the charge and may give up the witness after sufficient evidence is brought on record. No inference can be drawn about the testimony of the remaining witnesses. In case the defence relies on the fact that they do not support the case of prosecution they can always be examined in defence. No adverse presumption is to be drawn in the absence of any positive evidence as held by this Court in the case of Mazhar Ali vs. The State 2005 SCMR 523.

 15.             At this juncture, it would be conducive to refer the following portion of the evidence of said witnesses which follows as under:-

                   PW Complainant Ajeeb-ur-Rehman:

“The co-villagers Subhan, Allah Warayo, Punhal, Ghulam Mohammad Koural accompanied with us”

                   PW Gulshad:

“The villagers Punhal, Koural, Subhan, Koural and Allah Warayo accompanied with us”

Above portion conforms to the stand of the complainant, made in FIR, but made it evident and patent that there were also other villagers, whom prosecution claimed, as eye witnesses of the incident. Despite the position being so, the perusal of the record shows that defence did not make any such attempt to bring any of such claimed eye witnesses into witness box. Accordingly, in view of above we do not find substance in the plea of the defence that giving up of PW Moosa should result in drawing an adverse inference against the prosecution who, within its wisdom considered it sufficient to examine one of two brothers (eye witnesses) as examined PW Gulshad and given up PW Mohammad Moosa are brothers as is evident from admission of the PW-complainant that “Mohammad Moosa and Gulshad P.Ws are brothers”.

16.              Before responding to the plea of non-production of Torch Light, we feel it quite necessary to make it clear here that torch light was claimed by prosecution as one of the source of light at time of witnessing the incident because it is a night time incident. The FIR would show that the complainant had claimed therein that they saw the incident under moon light and torch light. Thus it becomes evident that torch light was not claimed as sole source of light. The torch light in itself is not a direct piece of evidence but it could, at the best, provide a corroboration to claim of identification of appellants or could lead to an otherwise view. There can be no denial to the fact that a torch light is available and people in the village do keep same for going out in night hours. The scanning of the available material shows that parties happened to be known to each other which stands clear from responses, given by complainant during his cross-examination:-

“The accused are our distant relatives. Accused are residing after leaving 2/3 houses from our house.”

The complainant party, in the first stand, only involved / named present appellants while claiming to have identified them properly through the two sources of the lights i.e moon light and torch light, therefore, mere non-production of the torch light cannot adversely affect the evidence of these witnesses. Besides, this it is important that the defence at no stage has claimed their identity by the witnesses to be a mistaken due to darkness hence it is safe to say that the defence never came with a plea or least suggestion that their involvement was the result of mistaken identity.

17.              Moreover, we also examined this aspect of the case from another angle. The complainant in his cross examination stated that “The wardat was inspected on torch lights. We handed over the torch lights to the police at wardat”. The complainant specifically claimed to have handed over the torch lights to the Investigating officer on the very day of the incident. It is worth to mention here that the defence did not put any question least a suggestion to the Investigating Officer ASI Wali Mohammad regarding claim of the complainant to have handed over the torch light to him. Even otherwise, this sole ground with regard to failure of the investigating officer for not securing under mashirnama is not fatal to the case of prosecution.

18.              As regards to the plea of the witnesses being related and inter-se, it would be material to make it clear that it is not the relationship which makes one a witness of truth or otherwise. It is now a well settled principle of law that “Evidence of witness cannot be disbelieved merely on his relationship with parties as held in case of Zulfiqar Ahmed vs. the State, reported as  2011 SCMR 492.

19.              HERE one thing is worth understanding that term ‘related’ should not be confused with the term ‘interested’ because both are entirely independent to each other. There is a considerable distinction between the terms ‘related’ and ‘interested’ because the interested witness needs not necessarily be a related but it is the person who has such a motive on account of enmity or any other consideration that due to such enmity or consideration he has prepared himself to depose falsely. The term ‘related’ is positive in its meaning while the term ‘interested’ is negative in its meaning because the term a related is not necessarily obtaining favour for one but the an ‘interested’ is always to gain favour for whom or what he / she is interested with. Though the burden is always upon the prosecution to prove truthfulness of a related witness but where the defence claims the witness to be ‘interested’ burden shifts upon defence to establish that witness had such a motive on account of enmity or any other consideration which compelled him to depose falsely as held in case of Khizar Hayat vs. the State, reported as 2011 SCMR 429.

20.              In the instant case the claim of the complainant and PW Gulshad regarding following facts have not been challenged or denied by the defence:

                   PW complainant Ajeeb-ur-Rehman

“It was about 9.00 pm, and I was available at house of deceased Amjad alongwith Mohammad Moosa and Gulshad Ahmed and were chit chatting with the deceased Amjad Hussain”

“My house and house of deceased Amjad Hussain are adjacent to each other”

Mohammad Moosa and Gulshad P.Ws are brothers. These P.Ws reside after leaving 2/3 houses from our houses”

                   PW Gulshad

“The incident……. When I alongwith complainant and Mohammad Moosa were present at the house of the deceased Amjad Hussain and we were chit chatting with the deceased Amjad Hussain”

The record is evident that the defence did not question / challenge such claim of the prosecution hence the legal presumption, within meaning of the Article 129 of the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order, allows taking presumption that presence of the witnesses was rather admitted by the defence. Both the witnesses have remained unwavering with each other in respect of all material aspects i.e from moment of deceased Amjad going out on call of nature; attracting of these witnesses on cries; and their act of rushing on such cries, which was quite natural. The witnesses have also given conforming details of the weapons with which the appellants were armed and even the use of such weapons on person of the deceased Amjad in the garden of the Ghulam Mohammad Agro. The defence has not challenged any of the claims of these witnesses rather the defence strengthened the claim of the prosecution which is evident from cross- examination of these witnesses which is as follows:-

                   PW complainant Ajeeb-ur-Rehman:

“It is a fact that I have given the details of Karap in F.I.R. The deceased had shifted to Karachi as soon as he was suspected to be Karo where he had remained for about 6 months”

                   PW Gulshad:

                   “Deceased was suspected as Karo by the accused”

There has been brought nothing on record by the defence which could show that these witnesses were having any such an enmity or consideration which motivated them to depose falsely against appellants on charge of murder of their blood-relation. It is the direct evidence which is decisive and even statement of the sole eye witness, if found confidence inspiring, is sufficient to hold conviction even in a murder case. The reference, if any, can be made to the case of Niazuddin and another v. The State reported as 2011 SCMR 725. 

21.              It is germane to mention that it is settled principle of law that the medical evidence is decisive and most reliable source in proving the nature of injuries, time of occurrence, death and the kind of weapons. The position, being so, make it obligatory that whenever prosecution, through direct evidence, claims nature of injury or injuries, time of occurrence, death and the kind of weapons to be in a particular manner then Safe Criminal Administration of Justice demands that such direct evidence be examined with reference to medical evidence because it could be the medical evidence alone which could corroborate such claim (direct evidence) of prosecution or could result in causing a dent in such claim of the prosecution.

22.              Thus, it would be significant to examine evidence of the PW-4 Dr. Muhammad Yakoob in juxtaposition of ocular account.

                   As per PWs Ajeeb-ur-Rehman and Gulshad, they found that appellant Qadar was armed with gun and Nadeem was armed with Danda who caused butt of the gun and Danda blows to the deceased. Here one thing requires an explanation that though appellant Qadar was alleged to be armed with gun but he was attributed role of causing butt of gun which may have been for the reason that a fire report creates much sound hence could have resulted in attracting the villagers. However, as per available material the prosecution claims the injuries to be result of hard and blunt substance. Let’s see what the PW Dr. Mohammad Yakoob stated about weapon (s), used for causing such injuries. PW Dr. Mohammad Yakoob, in his evidence so also in the post mortem report described the injuries to be ‘lacerated’ which could only be result of hitting of hard and blunt substance. Even this witness, in his opinion, has stated that “death of the deceased is ……….. as the result of brain injuries which are mentioned above, caused by hard and blunt substance”. Hence, medical evidence fully supports the ocular account to extent of weapon for kind of injuries.

23.              As per prosecution the time of occurrence was 10.00 p.m, and it was also claim of the prosecution witnesses (eye-witnesses) that injured was being taken to hospital but in the way he succumbed to injuries. This claim of the prosecution also finds support from the medical evidence whereby the medical officer has spoken about time of occurrence/injuries, succumbing to injuries and post mortem as under:-

“Time between the injuries and death approximately one hour, and between death and postmortem 6 to 7 hours”

                   Here it is worth to add here that since the expert gives opinion about time of death on basis of his experience and expertise therefore, margin up to 3 or 4 hours can be given and such a difference should not be taken as fatal to ocular account. Therefore, we can safely conclude that the medical evidence corroborates the ocular account in respect of all material things which medical evidence could.

24.              So far as to the recovery of crime weapon(s), i.e Gun and DANDA effected from the appellants, there is no cavil in proposition of law that the recovery at the pointation of disclosure of the accused is admissible under Article 40 of the Qanun-e-Shahadat order which only requires that there should be i) statement / information by accused and ii) which should lead to discovery / recover, reference if any can be drawn from the case of Mst. Askar Jan & others vs. Muhammad Daud & others, reported as 2010 SCMR 1604. In the instant case the prosecution came with a plea that both appellants during their arrest volunteered to produce the crime weapons and subsequent to such disclosure they did produce such crime weapons i.e Danda and gun hence prosecution established the recovery of crime weapons too. Even otherwise, mere failure of the recovery is not fatal for prosecution nor could be taken as to disbelieve the direct evidence if same is corroborated by medical evidence and also comes as natural and confidence inspiring.

25.              In view of above discussion, we are of the firm view that the prosecution successfully established the guilt against the appellants but we find the quantum of sentence, awarded by the learned trial court, as harsh. The prosecution did establish that it were the present appellants who caused injuries to deceased by following the deceased during night hours, having weapons in their hands which were sufficient to establish the intent of both appellants regarding using such weapons so as to cause murder. At the same time, it is also matter of record that some of the injuries on person of the deceased were on non-vital parts of the body and medical evidence proved that it was injury on skull which resulted into death. It was not established that as to which of the two appellants caused such injuries.

26.              Further, the witnesses also did not remained in same line regarding motive which may be for reason of honour; therefore, these should have been taken as mitigating circumstances. No special quantum of mitigation for converting death sentence into imprisonment for life is required but even an iota of evidence toward mitigation is sufficient to justify lesser sentence Reference can be made to the case of Dilawar Hussain Vs. the State, reported in 2013 SCMR 1582.

27.              Accordingly, we maintained the conviction, so awarded by the trial court, but while converting it from death to imprisonment for life. The compensation awarded by trial court is maintained. The appellants will be entitled to avail the benefit of section 382 B CrPC.   

28.              Since there are extenuating circumstances in this case, not calling for confirmation of death sentence, as such Reference No.5/2010 is answered in negative. Consequently death sentence is not confirmed.  

                                                                                            J U D G E

                                                        J U D G E

Imran/PA