ORDER SHEET

IN THE HIGH COURT OF SINDH, KARACHI
 
Crl. Bail Application No.378 of 2013

 

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Date              Order with signature of Judge

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DATE OF HEARING 09.07.2013

 

Mr. Aamir Mansoob Qureshi Advocate for the Applicant.

Mr. Wali Mohammad Jamali Standing Counsel.

Mr. Syed Israr Ali, Addl. Director Law, FIA.

Mr. Saeed Memon, Additional Director FIA.

Syed Zia Rizvi, SHO (I.O.), FIA, Karachi.

 

Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi J;     After rejection of the bail applications by the Sessions Judge, Malir in Criminal Bail Application No.107/2013 and by Ist Judicial Magistrate, Malir in Criminal Bail Application No.08/2013 the applicant/accused approached to this Court for grant of bail.

 

2.       Brief facts of the case are that on 28.01.2013 FIR No.26/2013 was registered at P.S. FIA, A.H.T Circle, Karachi under section 419, 420, 109 PPC r/w section 3, 4 and 6(1) of Passport Act, 1974. Against the accused Shahrukh Sikandar and others when the Shahrukh Sikandar left the country to UAE. Applicant was not nominated in the FIR but he was arrested after registration of the FIR on the charge of abatement and his name was mentioned in the final charge-sheet submitted on 16.3.2013 in the Court of Ist Judicial Magistrate, Malir, Karachi.

3.       Learned Counsel for the Applicant contended that the Applicant is serving in Jeri Danata Services Company being agents of Emirates Airline to its passengers at the Airport. Learned Counsel for the Applicant submitted that the Applicant has a very limited object of issuing boarding pass only to the passenger coming to his booth with air ticket and passport. The function and duty of the FIA and immigration authorities is to check and verify the passengers departing from the Airport and to check their passport and other relevant documents. Investigating Officer has falsely implicated and involved the Applicant, who is absolutely innocent and was discharging his duties in accordance with law. Learned Counsel for the Applicant urged that nothing has been found against the Applicant from the record of Call Data and the role of the Applicant alleged in the charge sheet is of abatement based on hardship and surmises. Learned Counsel for the Applicant further submitted that Sohail Ahmed, who allegedly issued tickets has already been granted bail by this Court in Criminal Bail Application No.425/2013 vide order dated 28.6.2013 and the case of the Applicant is on better footings then the case of Sohail Ahmed therefore, following the rule of consistency present Applicant is also entitled for grant of bail. Learned Counsel for the Applicant further argued that final charge-sheet has already been submitted in the Trial Court and as such there is no possibility of tempering with the prosecution evidence.

4.       Mr. Wali Muhammad Jamari learned Standing Counsel alongwith Syed Israr Ahmed Additional Director Law, FIA and other FIA officials present in Court at the time of hearing opposed the grant of bail to the present Applicant only for the reason that the charge of abatement is on the Applicant and sufficient material is available against the Applicant which connects him in the present case.

5.         I have heard Mr. Aamir Mansoob Qureshi Advocate for the Applicant, Mr. Wali Mohammad Jamari learned Standing Counsel and perused the material available on record with their assistance     

6.         On tentative assessment it transpired that initially applicant was not nominated in the FIR. Role assigned to the Applicant is only of abatement but no direct/ocular evidence is available against the applicant with the prosecution. Applicant did not issue e-ticket to the main accused Shahrukh Jatoi however, the allegation levelled against the applicant is issuance of boarding card on the basis of e-ticket already issued to the Shahrukh Jatoi. Co-accused Sohail Ahmed who had issued e-ticket to the main accused, has already been granted bail in Cr. Bail Application No.425/2013 by this Court as stated above. Rule of consistency always taken into consideration by the Courts because a person cannot be denied bail whose case is at par with an accused, who is already released on bail. Hence, following the rule of consistency, the Applicant is also entitled for grant of bail. Applicant is behind the bars for about seven months. Final charge-sheet has already been submitted and investigation has been completed. Case against the Applicant is based on documentary evidence which are already in possession of the prosecution as such there is no possibilities of tempering with the prosecution evidence.

7.         Above are the reasons of short order dated 09.07.2013 whereby Applicant was granted bail on furnishing solvent surety in the sum of Rs.500,000/- (Rupees Five Lacs only) to the satisfaction of the Trial Court.

8.         The observations made are of tentative nature and the Trial Court shall not be influenced by any of such observations.   

           

 

Karachi                                                                                               J U D G E

Dated:_________________