SC rejects pre-arrest bail plea of accused in shooting case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the pre-arrest bail application of Shafiq Hassan, accused in a shooting case, observing that the matter did not fall within the scope of protective bail.

The shooting case was heard by a two-member bench headed by Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan. During the hearing, the defence counsel argued that the complainant had staged the incident by inflicting injuries on himself.

Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, however, questioned the argument, remarking that people who injure themselves usually fire at an arm or hand. “No sane person would shoot himself in the hip and then lodge a criminal case,” the judge observed.

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The Supreme Court bench also inquired whether the accused had joined the investigation. In response, the investigating officer informed the court that the accused had not joined the investigation to date.

Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan noted that in light of these facts, the case did not warrant the grant of pre-arrest bail. The court subsequently rejected the bail plea of the accused.