LHC acquits man sentenced to 14 years in 6kg charas case
LAHORE, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – August 27, 2026) The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday acquitted a man who had been sentenced to 14 years in prison in a case involving the recovery of six kilograms of charas, setting aside the trial court’s conviction.
Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh allowed the criminal appeal filed by the accused, Zulfiqar Ali, who had remained behind bars for nearly three years.
Key Points:
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Insufficient Evidence: The court observed that merely producing sealed narcotics was not enough to establish the prosecution’s case. Opening the parcel during proceedings and having witnesses identify the recovered narcotics was essential.
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Chain of Custody: It was emphasized that the prosecution had to establish a complete chain of custody for the seized drugs, including safe custody and transfer. The police failed to produce a record showing the safe transfer of the drugs.
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Contradictions in Testimony: There were contradictions in the witnesses’ descriptions of the recovered charas, with one describing them as square and another as round. Opening the sealed parcel could have clarified this discrepancy.
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Benefit of Doubt: Giving the accused the benefit of doubt, the LHC set aside his 14-year sentence and ordered his acquittal.
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