Heroin trafficking suspect acquitted

IHC finds prosecution evidence unreliable, contradictory

RAWALPINDI:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday acquitted a convict sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment and fined Rs500,000 in a six-kilogram heroin trafficking case, setting aside the trial court's verdict and ordering his honourable acquittal.

A division bench comprising Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro and Justice Asif Khan heard the case.

Counsel for the appellant, Shan Zeb Khan, Advocate Supreme Court, argued that Tarnol Police Station police had arrested Muhammad Ghazanfar and falsely implicated him by attributing 20 kilograms of abandoned heroin to him.

He contended that no narcotics were recovered during the personal search, the forensic laboratory report was unreliable, and there were no independent witnesses present at the scene.

The defence further submitted that the prosecution relied solely on police officials as witnesses, whose statements contained material contradictions.

It was argued that the subordinate court had convicted the accused merely on the basis of the FIR without fulfilling the necessary legal requirements.

Counsel maintained that the accused had never previously been arrested, prosecuted or imprisoned, and had been sent to jail for the first time in what he described as a vindictive and fabricated case, devastating his family circumstances. Accepting these arguments, the High Court ordered the acquittal and release of the accused, observing that no credible evidence had been produced against him.

Meanwhile, Additional District and Sessions Judge Khurshid Anjum granted bail to an accused arrested in a case involving the alleged supply of 232 kilograms of hashish and 15 kilograms of opium, ordering his release.