Re-Examination is more important than Examination in Chief

 PLJ 2020 Cr.C. (Karachi) 48

Present: Salahuddin Panhwar, J.

ABDUL LATIF--Appellant

versus

STATE--Respondent

Crl. Jail Appeal No. 308 of 2017, decided on 20.2.2019

Criminal Procedure Code, 1898 (V of 1898)--

----Ss. 410, 222 & 223--Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (XLV of I860)--Trial and conviction--Defective charge--Perusal of charge shows that it gives sufficient notice to accused person of what prosecution case
is--Further, no such plea was taken during course of trial hence this plea at such stage is not impressive one--Trial Court while framing charge must adhere to requirement of law and should hesitate in parting allegation in details, if so require as to achieve ultimate objective of framing of charge i.e. to give a full notice / knowledge to accused of what he is to be tried.                                                                 [P. 50] A

Criminal Procedure Code, 1898 (V of 1898)--

----Ss. 410, 222 & 223--Trial and conviction--Defective charge--Speedy trial-Fair trial--Trail Courts in particular must always appreciate that a speedy trial alone shall never satisfy lust of fair trial nor a hasty conclusion of trial would be worth appreciating because an haste is always likely to cause prejudice to rights of parties which, being creation of procedural law, needs to be adhered--Trial Court must always appreciate that term evidence could only find its complete meanings when both of parts i.e. examination in chief & cross-examination co-exists--Truthfulness and credibility of witness is always tested through cross-examination, therefore, it is not only considered as integral part of evidence rather more important than examination in chief. [P. 51] B

Qanun-e-Shahadat Order, 1984 (10 of 1984)--

----Art. 161--Constitution of Pakistan, 1973, Art. 10-A--Complete and fair trial by recording evidence--Duty of Court--Opportunity for cross-examination, re-examination through representation--It is duty of trial Court judge to record complete evidence will shall not find satisfaction without testing credibility and truthfulness of witness i.e. cross-examination, re-examination through representation or even by Court itself. thirst to do complete justice should not be dependent upon acts and omissions of counsels; Courts must not stamp truthfulness and credibility of a witness as granted merely by saying “opportunity was granted” rather should exercise power, vested with a judge--If things were to be left solely on wishes of counsels then there appears no purpose for induction of provision u/A. 161 QSO ibid whereby Court, being solely responsible to justice, has been invited to test credibility and truthfulness of witness who volunteers himself to such challenge--Case remanded back. [P. 51 & 52] C & D

2003 SCMR 1374, ref.

Mr. Farah Naz Yousufzai, Advocate for Appellant.

Mr. Faheem Hussain, DPG.

Date of hearing: 20.2.2019.

Order

Briefly stated, facts of prosecution case are that complainant lodged FIR that on 17.03.2011 he went with his brother Sajjad Hussain Shah to Gulshan-e-Ghazi Baldia Town when they reached at 100 quarters at about 9.30 pm three persons came, one of them took out pistol and pointed at his brother Sajjad Hussain and asked them as to why they have come there and became scuffled between them, accused fired upon his brother which hit on upper side of eye and chest and he fell down, accused started running away, in meanwhile police mobile came and complainant informed them about the incident and pointed towards accused who were present at some distance from the spot and arrested them with pistol and magazine, sent up for trial and convicted through impugned judgment.

2.  At the outset learned counsel for appellant contends that charge is defective in this case, which is that:--

“……….do hereby charge you:--

1.       Ghulam Hussain son of Bashir Ahmed

2.       Abdul Latif son of Dilshad.

That you on or about 17th day of march 2011 at about 2100 hours you were with commission (common) intention murder to one Syed Sajjad Hussain Shah at block No. C, near 100 quarter Gulshan Ghazi, Baldia Town, Karachi.

Thus you have committed an offence punishable under Section 302/34, PPC within the cognizance of this Court, and you here by tried by this Court on the aforesaid charges.”

Sections 222 and 223 of CrPC provide manner wherein the charge is to be framed but framed charged does not satisfy requirement thereof. She added that examination in chief of material witness was recorded by the trial Court but cross-examination was not conducted due to statement of the counsel on 09.02.2017 whereas as per diary sheet of that date such witness was not present, his statement was recorded on 09.02.2016 one year before, merely on the application side was closed and matter was adjourned for final arguments. This is a case of capital punishment; it was the duty of the Court to examine the witness even by Court. She has relied upon 2014 PCRLJ 527, 2000 PCRLJ 367, 2014 PCRLJ 865 and 2015 MLD 339.

3.  With regard to plea of non-examination of PW Muhammad Nazeer learned DPG contends that this case may be remanded back for examination of Muhammad Nazeer from the stage of cross-examination of Muhammad Nazeer however, as regard to the plea of defective charge, he contends that same is with regard to commission of murder and states that both caused fire hence no prejudice would be caused to the appellant as penalty is same with regard to commission of murder.

4.  As regard the plea of defective charge, it would suffice to say that perusal of the charge shows that it gives sufficient notice to the accused persons of what the prosecution case is. Further, no such plea was taken during course of trial hence this plea at such stage is not impressive one. However, I would add that trial Court (s), while framing the charge, must adhere to requirement of law and should not hesitate in parting the allegations in details, if so require as to achieve the ultimate objective of framing of charge i.e to give a full notice / knowledge to accused of what he is to be tried.

5.  While attending to the plea regarding non-cross-examination of witness Muhammad Nazeer, it appears from the record that Muhammad Nazeer witness was examined by the trial Court but cross-examination was not conducted and after one year application filed by counsel for appellant was taken on record; on statement examination in chief learned trial judge endorsed that “Counsel is not ready to cross-examine the witness.” However, the perusal of the record shows that at such time the witness was not present hence question of readiness or otherwise of counsel to cross-examine the witness does not arise.

6.  The above position has forced me to say that the trial Court (s), in particular, must always appreciate that a speedy trial alone shall never satisfy the lust of 'fair-trial' nor a hasty conclusion of trial would be worth appreciating because an haste is always likely to cause prejudice to rights of parties which (rights), being creation of procedural law, needs to be adhered. The trial Court must always appreciate that term evidence could only find its complete meaning when both of its parts i.e examination-in-chief and cross-examination co-exists. Needful to add that truthfulness and credibility of a witness is always tested through cross-examination therefore, cross-examination is not only considered as integral part of evidence rather more important than examination-in-chief. Reference is made to the case of Mukhtar Ahmed v. State 2003 SCMR 1374 wherein this legal position was affirmed as:--

“16……Both the Courts have failed to appreciate that cross-examination is a continuing part of the whole statement, rather, more important than the examination-in-chief....”

I shall further add that it shall always be the undeniable duty of a 'judge' that justice is not only done but should be shown to have been done. Such duty becomes double when the charge, under trial, is one of 'capital punishments'. I would further add that it is the duty of the 'trial Court judge' to record complete evidence which, as already stated, shall not find satisfaction without testing credibility and truthfulness of the witness i.e cross-examination, reexamination through representation or even by the Court itself. The thirst to do complete justice should not be dependant upon acts and omissions of the counsels; the Courts must not stamp the truthfulness and

credibility of a witness as granted merely by saying 'opportunity , was granted' rather should exercise power, vested with a judge, by Article 161 of the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order, 1984. If the things were to be left solely on wishes of the counsels then there appears no purpose for induction of provision of Article 161 whereby the Court, being solely responsible to do justice, has been invited to test the credibility and truthfulness of the witness who, by entering into witness-box, volunteers himself to such challenge.

7.  Thus, if above legal position is put in juxta-position to present situation, the Safe Criminal Administration of Justice, as well Article 10-A of the Constitution, leaves me with no option but either to provide an opportunity of cross-examination or to exclude the evidence of said witness. I, while maintaining balance, would prefer to go with former one more particularly finding the absence of counsel on the date when evidence of witness was taken as complete with note i.e “Counsel is not ready to cross-examine the witness.”.

8.  Accordingly, this is a fit case to be remanded back from the stage of cross-examination of Muhammad Nazeer and statement under Section 342, Cr.P.C. Appellant shall be at liberty to lead evidence if any, thereafter trial judge shall pass fresh judgment after hearing the parties without being influenced by the earlier judgment whereby appellant was convicted.

(Z.A.S.)           Case remanded