| Citation(s) |
|---|
| 2026 SLG 3686 = 2026 SLD 3686 = 2026 SHC 1423 |
Sindh High Court
Criminal Jail Appeal No.D-11 of 2023 (Hyderabad)
Presented By: Omar Sial JUDGE
Appellant : Anees Ahmed through M/s. Waqar Siyal, Zeeshan and Muhammad Faheem, advocates for the appellant Amici : M/s. Mahmood Akhtar Qureshi, Faisal Siddiqui, Ms. Sara Malkani and Maliha Zia, advocates Complainant : Nisar Ahmed present in person The State : Mr. Nazar Muhammad Memon, Additional Prosecutor General, Hyderabad Date of hearing: 18.04.2026
Criminal Jail Appeal No.D-11 of 2023 (Hyderabad)
Presented By: Omar Sial JUDGE
Appellant : Anees Ahmed through M/s. Waqar Siyal, Zeeshan and Muhammad Faheem, advocates for the appellant Amici : M/s. Mahmood Akhtar Qureshi, Faisal Siddiqui, Ms. Sara Malkani and Maliha Zia, advocates Complainant : Nisar Ahmed present in person The State : Mr. Nazar Muhammad Memon, Additional Prosecutor General, Hyderabad Date of hearing: 18.04.2026
Anees Ahmed V/S The State Sindh High Court, Circuit at Hyderabad
Law: Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997
Section: 6,7(a)
Law: Pakistan Penal Code, 1860
Section: 321,315,509
Law: Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016
Section: 24,21,29
Law: Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898
Section: 161,164,342
Case Summary Case Title: Anees Ahmed v. The State & others Court: High Court of Sindh at Karachi Case No.: Criminal Jail Appeal No. D-11 of 2023 (Hyderabad) Bench: Mr. Justice Omar Sial & Mr. Justice Mohammad Abdur Rahman Date of Judgment: 2026 Facts of the Case: Naila Rind, a final-year student at the University of Sindh, Jamshoro, was found hanging in her hostel room on 01.01.2017. Initially, her family suspected murder and harassment, alleging that Naila was receiving threatening calls from a mobile number. FIR No. 4/2017 was registered against an unknown person under: Section 315 PPC Section 316 PPC Section 509 PPC Sections 9 & 13 PECA Ordinance 2009 Section 7 Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 Later, Anees Ahmed was arrested and accused of blackmailing Naila through messages and private photographs, allegedly causing her suicide. The Anti-Terrorism Court convicted Anees and awarded: Life imprisonment under Section 7(a) ATA 1997 read with Section 321 PPC Three years imprisonment under PECA Sections 21(b), 21(c), and 24(d) Main Issues Before High Court: 1. Whether prosecution proved that Anees blackmailed or harassed Naila causing her suicide? Court’s Finding: No. The prosecution failed to prove blackmail, harassment, or any unlawful act by Anees. The evidence only showed that Anees and Naila had personal communication. A relationship or private conversation alone cannot establish criminal liability. No evidence proved that Anees threatened to publish private photographs. 2. Whether call data record proved Anees’s involvement? Court’s Finding: No. Reasons: Call data record was not properly authenticated. It lacked: Cellular company verification Seal Authorized signature The Supreme Court judgment in Khair Mohammad v. The State (2025 SCMR 1599) was relied upon, holding that unauthenticated CDR cannot be relied upon. 3. Whether WhatsApp messages established blackmail? Court’s Finding: No. One set of messages only showed Anees asking Naila to meet him. No threat regarding private photographs was found. Another set of screenshots appeared unrelated and was not connected with Anees or Naila. Screenshots alone without…