Punishment of Qazf is Eighty Stripes

PLJ 2013 FSC 25
[Appellate Jurisdiction]

Present: Muhammad Jehangir Arshad, J.

Mst. ABIDA BIBI--Appellant

Versus

STATE and another--Respondents

Crl. Appeal No. 88/L of 2009, decided on 18.1.2013.

Offence of Qazf (Enforcement of Hadd) Ordinance, 1979 (VIII of 1979)--

----S. 11--Appeal against judgment--Offence of Qazf--Conviction and sentence--Challenge to--Offence u/S. 11 of the Offence of Qazf (Enforcement of Hadd) Ordinance VIII of 1979 was proved against the accused, therefore, she was convicted under the above said offence and sentenced to R.I 2 years with whipping of 40 stripes subject to confirmation by High Court--Trial Court also imposed fine of Rs.50,000/- as compensation for payment to the complainant or in default to suffer for 6 months simple imprisonment--Even otherwise, under Amended Section 7 of the Offence of Qazf (Enforcement of Hadd) Ordinance VIII of 1979, punishment forQazf is only whipping numbering 80 stripes and no punishment of either description or compensation or fine in the form of compensation is provided under the said amended Section--The sentences so awarded by the trial Court were in fact provided under the omitted Section 11 of the Offence of Qazf (Enforcement of Hadd) Ordinance, VIII of 1979--Sentence of whipping in case of offence of Zina as Tazir could not be awarded after the enforcement of Abolition of the Punishment of Whipping Act, 1996--Appeal accepted.           [Pp. 26 & 27] A & B

Syed Fida Abbas, Advocate for Appellant.

Mr. Imtiaz Hussain Khan Baloch, Advocate for Complainant.

Mr. Zahid Younis, D.P.P for State.

Date of hearing: 18.1.2013.

Judgment

This appeal is directed against the judgment dated 25.08.2009 delivered by learned Additional Sessions Judge, Layyah whereby the appellant was convicted under Section 11 of the Offence of Qazf (Enforcement of Hadd) Ordinance, VIII of 1979 and sentenced to 02 years. R.I with 40 stripes. She was also held liable to pay Rs. 50,000/- as compensation to the complainant or in default thereof to further undergo 06 months simple imprisonment.

2.  In view of the proposed judgment neither the facts need be mentioned nor the evidence need to be reproduced. This appeal merits acceptance on the sole ground that neither at the time of the alleged occurrence, nor filing of complaint or passing of the impugned order under Section 11 of the said Ordinance was part of Statute but the same had been omitted through Enforcement of Protection of Women (Criminal Laws Amendment) Act, 2006 which was enforced w.e.f 02.01.2006. SajidHussain Respondent No. 2 filed a complaint under Section 7 of the Offence of Qazf (Enforcement of Hadd) Ordinance, VIII of 1979 against the appellant on 16.07.2008. However, on the completion of trial, learned trial Court came to the conclusion that the offence under Section 11 of the Offence of Qazf (Enforcement ofHadd) Ordinance VIII of 1979 was proved against the accused, therefore, she was convicted under the above said offence and sentenced to R.I. 2 years with whipping of 40 stripes subject to confirmation by this Court. The learned trial Court also imposed fine of Rs.50,000/- as compensation for payment to the    complainant   or    in    default   to   suffer   for   6   months   simple  imprisonment. Even otherwise, under Amended Section 7 of the Offence of Qazf (Enforcement of Hadd) Ordinance, VIII of 1979, punishment for Qazf is only whipping numbering 80 stripes and no punishment of either description or compensation or fine in the form of compensation is provided under the said amended Section. The sentences so awarded by the learned trial Court were in fact provided under the omitted Section 11 of the Offence of Qazf (Enforcement of Hadd) Ordinance, VIII of 1979, which is reproduced below for ready reference:

"11.  Punishment for Qazf liable to tazir.--Whoever commits Qazf liable to tazir shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years and with whipping not exceeding forty stripes and shall also be liable to fine."

3.  Further the sentence of whipping in case of offence of Zina as Tazir could not be awarded after the enforcement of Abolition of the Punishment of Whipping Act, 1996. Section 3 of the said Act is reproduced below:--

"3. Abolition of Punishment of Whipping.--Except in cases where the punishment of whipping is provided for as Hadd, the sentence of whipping provided under any law, rule or regulation for the time being in force shall stand abolished:

            Provided that where, on the commencement of this Act, the sentence of whipping awarded by any Court, or Tribunal has not been executed, such sentence of whipping shall stand remitted."

4.  Learned Counsel for the complainant though tried to argue that in fact the appellant was convicted and punished under the amended Section 7 of the Offence ofQazf (Enforcement of Hadd) Ordinance, VIII of 1979 yet failed to convince the Court in the light of the above noted discussion. Resultantly this appeal is accepted, the judgment of the learned trial Court dated 25.8.2009 being without jurisdiction is set-aside and the appellant is acquitted of the charge honourably. She is present in the Court. Her bail bonds are recalled. She is released from the liability of bail bonds. Copy of this judgment be sent to Mr.Sadaqat Ullah Khan, learned Additional Sessions Judge, Layyah through the learned Sessions Judge wherever he is posted, for his perusal.

(A.S.)   Appeal accepted