MUHAMMAD ZAFRAN vs State S — 2024 SCMR 548 SUPREME-COURT

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MUHAMMAD ZAFRAN VS State S. 295-B---Defiling of Holy Quran---Reappraisal of evidence---Serious lapses in investigation---Allegation against the accused was that he was found burning verses of the Holy Quran---There are serious lapses on the part of the investigating officer; for instance, the "machis" or matchbox has been introduced at a later stage, which appears to have been done to strengthen the prosecution's case---Strikingly, neither the initial written complaint of complainant, nor the proceedings recorded by the police official on the written complaint mentions the "machis" or matchbox---Similarly, the body of the recovery memo, which was stated to have been prepared at the spot, does not mention the "machis" or a matchbox---In fact, the word "machis" appears to have been inserted at a later stage, and that too, only on the heading of the recovery memo, and not in the body thereof, while other recovered items have clearly been mentioned therein---Furthermore, on closer examination of the said recovery memo, it was noted that the word "machis" has been written with a different pen---To compound the above investigational transgressions, the complainant, has, in his evidence, not mentioned the recovery of the "machis" or matchbox from the accused at the place of the crime---This being so, the prosecution has not been able to prove: firstly, the willful act of the accused; and secondly, that he was burning the verses of the Holy Qur'an at the time of his arrest---No specific description of the verses of the Holy Qur'an has been made at any stage of the proceedings---Complainant in his written complaint, recovery witnesses in their statements recorded under section 161 of the Cr.P.C., the recovery memo, and even all of the prosecution witnesses remained silent about the description of the recovered verses of the Holy Qur'an---Verses of the Holy Qur'an, which, as per prosecution, were alleged to have been recovered at the place of occurrence, should have had an identifiable description to a degree of certainty dispelling any doubt---Holy Qur'an has an identifiable description in the form of any of its 30 Paraas, 114 Surahs and 6666 Ayats---Lack of description of the recovered verses of the Holy Qur'an raises serious doubts about what was actually recovered from the place of occurrence, and thereby renders its very admissibility in legal peril---For a serious offence the investigation was not at par with what was required keeping in view the nature of the offence, and the severity of the punishment prescribed therefor---Appeal was allowed, the conviction and sentence of accused were set aside, and he was acquitted of the charge framed against him.

MUHAMMAD ZAFRAN vs State S — 2024 SCMR 548 SUPREME-COURT

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