| Citation(s) |
|---|
| 2026 SLG 1631 2026 SLD 1631 = 2026 PLJ 52 = 2026 YLR 620 |
Lahore High Court, Multan Bench, Multan
Crl. Misc. No. 3794-B of 2025, decided on 19.5.2025.
Presented By: Malik Javid Iqbal Wains, J.
Mr. Muhammad Bilal Butt and Ms. Rabia Kausar, Advocates for Petitioner. Rana Ghulam Hussain, Assistant Attorney General for Pakistan with Tariq Mehmood Sipra, Assistant Director, NCCIA, Multan. Date of hearing: 19.5.2025.
Crl. Misc. No. 3794-B of 2025, decided on 19.5.2025.
Presented By: Malik Javid Iqbal Wains, J.
Mr. Muhammad Bilal Butt and Ms. Rabia Kausar, Advocates for Petitioner. Rana Ghulam Hussain, Assistant Attorney General for Pakistan with Tariq Mehmood Sipra, Assistant Director, NCCIA, Multan. Date of hearing: 19.5.2025.
ZAHID SIDDIQUE--Appellant
VERSUS
STATE and another--Respondents
Law: Criminal Procedure Code, 1898
Section: 497
Law: Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016
Section: 13,14,16
Law: Pakistan Penal Code, 1860
Section: 406, 419, 420, 468, 471, 109, 34
PLJ 2026 Cr.C. (Note) 52 [Lahore High Court, Multan Bench] Criminal Procedure Code, 1898 (V of 1898)-- ----S. 497--Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (XL of 2016), Ss. 13, 14 & 16--Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (XLV of 1860), Ss. 406, 419, 420, 468, 471, 109 & 34--No statements from witnesses or aggrieved parties, who allegedly transferred money into petitioner’s bank account are available on record--Glaring discrepancy between allegations in FIR and evidence--Section 13 of (“PECA”) pertains to electronic forgery--Section 14 deals with electronic fraud, targeting inducement into relationships or causing harm or damage through deception--Section 16 addresses unauthorized use of Identity information, criminalizing use of another person’s identity without authorization--Section 406 deals with criminal breach of trust concerning entrustment, not investment--Most of sections mentioned in FIR are bailable--Some are non-bailable, but non fall within prohibitory clause--Bail cannot be denied on presumptions--Purpose of bail is to safeguard individuals from potential abuse of legal process--Bail petition is allowed. [Para 6, 9, 11, 14, 15, 16 & 17] A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H & I 2023 SCMR 401; PLD 1995 SC 34; 2021 SCMR 822; 2020 SCMR 717; 2019 SCMR 1914 ref. Order Through this petition filed under Section 497, Cr.P.C. the petitioner, Zahid Siddique, seeks post-arrest bail in Case FIR No. 45/2025 dated 25.02.2025, registered under Sections 13, 14, and 16 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 read with Sections 406, 419, 420, 468, 471, 109, and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 at Police Station FIA/CC, Multan, District Multan. 2. As per the contents of the crime report, a regular Inquiry No. 458/2024 dated 27.03.2024 was initiated on the complaint of Sajid Mehmood. The complainant alleged that his acquaintances encouraged him to invest in Venus Group of Companies, which claimed to be involved in various international businesses and offered…