The Superior Court of Lahore has revoked a man’s conviction in a violation case, citing important lagoons in prosecution, including delayed reports, contradictions in the statements and the lack of forensic corroboration.
Judge Abher Gul Khan, while giving the benefit of the doubt, acquitted the defendant Amanullah, who delivered life imprisonment for a court of first instance of Gujrat. The court indicated that the alleged incident took place on October 4, 2016, but the FIR was presented ten days later without any explanation.
The plaintiff also made contradictory statements, first claiming that the defendant threatened to publish a video, but then denying having made such a claim.
The medical exam was performed 11 days after the incident and showed no signs of violence. The forensic evidence of the Punjab Forensic Sciences Agency also did not find semen and discarded sexual relations.
In addition, a CD produced during the trial did not contain video, while the photographs presented as evidence did not show the defendant’s face. Even the alleged torn clothes of the victim never appeared.
Previously, an additional session judge in Gujrat had condemned the accused on the basis of a FIR, registered at the Jalpur Jattan City police station under section 376-I PPC, granting life imprisonment, a fine of RS50,000 and a compensation of 300,000 RS300,000.
Citing precedents of the Supreme Court, the LHC said that convictions cannot remain without “impeccable evidence” and that even a single reasonable doubt must benefit the accused.
Concluding that the Prosecutor’s Office could not prove the crime, the court set aside the conviction and acquitted Amanullah. As the appellant was already on bail, his guarantee was discharged.
