Lahore High Court Acquits Two Accused Persons in Murder Case Due to Lack of Evidence

Islamabad 29-03-2025: In a significant ruling, the Lahore High Court (LHC) has acquitted two individuals previously convicted of murder, citing insufficient evidence and procedural lapses in the prosecution’s case. Ms. Chief Justice Aalia Neelum delivered the judgment in [Crl. Appeal No. 17977 of 2020] Muhammad Waqas Vs. The State and [Crl. Appeal No. 18416-J of 2020] Mst. Rimsha Bibi Vs. The State, overturning their convictions under Section 302(b) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

The case stemmed from FIR No. 19/2018, registered on January 11, 2018, at Police Station Changa Manga, District Kasur, following the murder of deceased lady (aged 65-70). Initially, the case was filed against unknown persons. However, the complainant, later implicated two accused persons based on supplementary statements. The trial Court convicted both accused in 2020, sentencing them to life imprisonment with a fine of Rs. 400,000 each as compensation to the victim’s heirs.

After reviewing the evidence, the Lahore High Court found several inconsistencies and weaknesses in the prosecution’s case:

1. No eyewitnesses directly identified the accused committing the crime. The case relied solely on circumstantial evidence, which the Court found unreliable.
2. Witnesses provided conflicting statements, particularly regarding the timing of events and the alleged last-seen evidence.
3. The Court dismissed the extrajudicial confession as uncorroborated and legally weak, failing to meet the standards required for conviction.
4. The DNA report presented by the prosecution was deemed inconclusive, with blood samples analyzed more than a year after the crime, raising concerns over contamination and reliability.
5. Initially, the FIR did not name any suspects. The accused were implicated later through supplementary statements, which the Court found suspicious and lacking credibility.

In light of these findings, the Lahore High Court ruled that the prosecution failed to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The Court upheld the principle that any doubt in a criminal case must benefit the accused. Consequently, it acquitted both accused persons and ordered their immediate release.

This ruling underscores the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring convictions are based on solid evidence rather than speculation or weak circumstantial proof. It reinforces the legal principle that the burden of proof rests on the prosecution and that any uncertainty must lead to acquittal.

The judgment sets a precedent for evaluating circumstantial evidence and extrajudicial confessions in criminal trials, highlighting the need for thorough, reliable, and timely investigations.

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