'Accused entitled to raid video copy'

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has declared that people accused in criminal cases are entitled to receive a complete copy of the video recording made during police raids.

A bench comprising Justice Farooq Haider and Justice Ali Zia Bajwa passed the directions while hearing an appeal filed by an accused in a case registered under the anti-narcotics law.

The petitioner's counsel argued that his client, facing trial in a case registered under the anti-narcotics law, had filed an application to be provided the video recording of the raid in a USB but the trial court had rejected the request.

He argued that the video recording of the raid was crucial for a fair trial and requested the court to issue directions for the purpose.

The court, upon completion of arguments, declared that if the prosecution presents the video recording of the raid as evidence during the trial, the accused has the right to obtain a copy.

The bench instructed the prosecution to submit USB copies of the video recording as per the number of accused in the court, so that each of them could be provided a copy.