Law: Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898

Section: 498

Law: Pakistan Penal Code (PPC),1860

Section: 379

Criminal Procedure Code, 1898 (V of 1898)-- ----S. 498--Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (XLV of 1860), S. 379--Bail grant of--Allegation of theft of a goat tentative assessment of evidentiary material--Petitioner was not named as an accused in FIR--In F.I.R, no distinctive features of stolen goat have been mentioned therefore, even if any recovery is made, it would be impossible to relate same with stolen goat or currency goat--The involvement of petitioner is based on mala fide and malicious intent, is an assertion which cannot be said to be without basis and foundation at this stage--The petitioner behind bars at this stage would cause irreparable loss to his reputation and would serve no useful purpose.         [Para 4] A, B & C PLD 2017 SC 730. Mr. Shabbir Ahmad Awan, Advocate for Petitioner. Rao Muhammad Riaz Khan, Deputy Prosecutor General for State. Date of hearing: 2.4.2024. Order Through this petition under Section 498, Cr.P.C. the petitioner, namely Muhammad Ibrar seeks pre-arrest bail in case F.I.R. No. 66 of 2024, dated 15.02.2024, registered in respect of an offence under Section 379, P.P.C. at Police Station Faqirwali, District Bahawalnagar. 2.       The allegations against the petitioner, namely Muhammad Ibrar, culled from the evidentiary material produced before the Court, are that he committed theft of a goat belonging to the complainant of the case. 3.       I have heard learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned Deputy Prosecutor General and perused the record with their able assistance. 4.       This is a pre-arrest bail and only a tentative assessment of the evidentiary material produced before the Court is to be made at this stage. A perusal of the record reveals that the theft was discovered by the complainant of the case on 13.02.2024 and the F.I.R was registered on 15.02.2024 however, the petitioner was not named as an accused in the same. The name of the petitioner cropped up for the first time during the investigation of the case on 15.02.2024, after the registration of the F.I.R., when Safdar Hussain,…