Law: Qanun-e-Shahadat Order, 1984

Section: 129(g)

Law: Pakistan Penal Code (PPC),1860

Section: 302 (b)

Law: Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898

Section: 544-A

 (Tag Line) Murder Reference — Acquittal on Benefit of Doubt Due to Suppressed Injuries, Non-Production of Injured Witnesses, and Unreliable Eyewitness Account  Summary The appellant Mukhtiar Khan, convicted for double murder under Section 302(b) PPC and sentenced to death, was acquitted by the High Court in appeal. The Court rejected the prosecution case due to material contradictions, suppression of injured witnesses, and failure to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Consequently, the death sentence was not confirmed and murder reference answered in negative. ORDER; SADAQAT ALI KHAN, J. Mukhtiar Khan (appellant) alongwith Hamad Khan and Ubaidullah Khan (co-accused since acquitted) has been tried by the trial Court in case FIR No.147 dated 21.04.2023 offences under Sections 302/324/148/149 PPC, Police Station Kamar Mushani, District Mianwali and was convicted and sentenced vide judgment dated 22.12.2025 as under:- Mukhtiar Khan (appellant)   U/S 302(b) PPC Sentenced to DEATH on two counts for committing murder of Muhammad Ishtiaq and Ghulam Mustafa (deceased) with compensation of Rs.500,000/- (recoverable as arrears of land revenue) each payable to legal heirs of each deceased u/s 544-A Cr.P.C, and in default whereof to further undergo simple imprisonment for six months each. Appellant has filed this criminal appeal against his conviction and the trial Court has sent Murder Reference for confirmation of his death sentence or otherwise which are being decided through this single judgment. Heard. Record perused. Muhammad Ishtiaq and Ghulam Mustafa were done to death on the road on 21.04.2023 at 02.15 p.m, whereafter FIR was lodged on the same day at 04.15 p.m, on the statement of Malik Muhammad Aftab/complainantPW14 (brother of Muhammad Ishtiaq deceased) who while claiming himself to be the eyewitness of the occurrence stated in his…