Key Responsibilities of Judges During Evidence Recording – 2025 LHC Guidelines for Fair Trial.
شہادت قلمبند کرتے ٹرائل وقت جج کی ذمہ داریاں – ہائیکورٹ کی اہم ہدایات
پسِ منظر:
ہائی کورٹ نے تین بنیادی نکات پر زور دیا:
گواہ کی شہادت انگلش میں قلمبند کی جا رہی ہو تو اس کا اردو ترجمہ فوراً اسی وقت گواہ
شہادت کے کسی حصے میں ابہام یا غلطی ہو تو اردو ترجمہ کی مدد سے اسی وقت اس کی وضاحت یا تصحیح کی جائے۔
منصفانہ ٹرائل کا حق بھی مکمل طور پر حاصل ہوگا۔
عملی ہدایات:
نتیجہ:
VVVVVI. MUST READ JUDGEMENT
شہادت قلمبند کرتے وقت جج کی ذمہ داریاں---------------
لاہور ہائیکورٹ نے پنجاب بھر کے تمام ججز کو ہدایات جاری کی ہیں کہ جب گواہ کی شہادت انگلش میں قلمبند کی جارہی ہو تو اسی وقت ساتھ ساتھ ہی اس شہادت کا گواہ، جج اور ملزم کی موجودگی میں اردو ترجمہ بھی تیار کرنا چاہیئے اور اگر انگلش میں قلمبند کی گئی شہادت میں کوئی ابہام پیدا ہو تو اردو ترجمہ کی روشنی میں اسکو فوری طور پر اسی وقت دور کر دینا چاہیئے
Must read judgement
Law does not permit the Court to pick and choose a sentence from the entire evidence and base its decision while reading only that sentence in favour of the appellant, in isolation to the remaining evidence available on record.
Mentioning of word “us” in the above quoted line from the cross-examination of the complainant is a typographical error due to casual and careless attitude of the Presiding Officer while dictating the evidence. We have noted that while appearing in the witness box, complainant(naeem) has categorically stated in his examination-in- chief that appellant made straight fire shots which hit the deceased on left side of his abdomen and left shoulder and due to the firearm injuries, fell down. Complainant along with PWs came forward and witnessed the occurrence. It is also noteworthy that during cross-examination, learned defence counsel put some questions to complainant regarding the place of occurrence and its location, whereupon he replied that place of occurrence was surrounded by inhabited houses and in that sequence, (naeem)a question was put to him upon which he replied that “none from us is eye witness in this case” (Bold for emphasis). It clearly manifests that in a sequel of cross-examination a question was put about the availability of inhabitants of locality and not about the presence of the complainant as well as eye witnesses mentioned in the crime report and due to the carelessness of the Presiding Officer instead of word “them” word “us” has been typed.
Most of the witnesses in the Province of Punjab give their evidence in Urdu, which the accused can also easily understand, for the reason, if the evidence of a witness dictated by the Presiding Officer in English is simultaneously translated in Urdu, it shall become convenient for the Presiding Officer to comply with the provisions of Section 360 Cr.P.C. as well. This practice shall definitely reduce the chance of any violation of the right of fair trial given to the parties in terms of Article 10-A of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973.
All the learned Judges of Sessions Courts and Special Courts in the Province of Punjab shall ensure that whenever the evidence of a witness is recorded in English, its translation in Urdu shall be reduced into writing simultaneously at the same sitting as well as in the presence of witness(es), accused and the Presiding Officer and then the provisions(naeem) contained in Section 360, Cr.P.C. shall also be adhered to in letter and spirit so that if any ambiguity in the evidence recorded in English comes on the surface of record, the same can be then and there removed in the light of translation of evidence in Urdu.
Murder Reference.221-21
THE STATE VS MUHAMMAD IRFAN POMI
Mr. Justice Muhammad Tariq Nadeem
29-04-2025
2025 LHC 3801