Supreme Court of Pakistan
Ghulam Shabbir v. The State & another; connected petition: Mazhar Abbas v. The State & another
Published on this website
J.P. 495 of 2021 & Crl.P.L.A. 1483-L of 2021
Citation: Approved for reporting; reporter citation not stated
Background
Background
Supreme Court acquits Ghulam Shabbir in a strangulation murder case: the victim's DNA on a jersey could not cure doubtful recovery and unreliable eyewitness evidence.
Legal questions
Legal questions
Whether the victim's DNA on a jersey could sustain a murder conviction after rejection of the eyewitness account and where recovery and preservation of the garments were unreliable.
Court holding
What the Court decided
The bloodstain DNA match could not be relied upon in isolation. Its evidentiary value depended on reliable recovery and circumstances connecting the exhibit to the accused and offence. The cumulative defects rendered the evidentiary chain unreliable.
Final outcome
Final outcome
Jail petition converted into an appeal and allowed; Ghulam Shabbir acquitted and ordered released unless required in another case. Enhancement petition dismissed and leave refused.
Practical effect
What the decision means in practice
Jail petition converted into an appeal and allowed; Ghulam Shabbir acquitted and ordered released unless required in another case. Enhancement petition dismissed and leave refused.
This summary states the immediate effect recorded in the decision. The original judgment and the facts of the particular case remain controlling.
New judgment alerts
Follow this court or legal topic
Receive new judgments and analysis about Supreme Court of Pakistan, Criminal Law, Evidence by email.
Primary source
Original judgment and official source
This HTML summary does not replace the court record. Use the linked original judgment PDF or official court source to verify the exact text and directions.
Later treatment
Later treatment
Research tools
Use this judgment in your research
Copy a link to a specific part
Judgment text is provided for legal research and general information. Verify the official court record before relying on it in proceedings.
Related article
Related article
Supreme Court acquits Ghulam Shabbir in a strangulation murder case: the victim's DNA on a jersey could not cure doubtful recovery and unreliable eyewitness evidence.
Read the related article →