Chief Justice hints at life imprisonment for false testimony

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Asif Saeed Khosa on Wednesday hinted at life imprisonment for those who give false testimonies.

After launching a crackdown against witnesses giving false testimonies, the CJP, for the first time in judicial history of the country, directed initiation of a trial against a person for giving false testimony in a murder case.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa heard an appeal of one Zehra alias Zaheer against the verdict of the high court. The court directed the judge of Anti-Terrorism Court to file a complaint with District and Sessions Judge, Faisalabad to proceed in accordance with law while initiating a trial of Muhammad Arshid for giving false testimony in murder case of Assistant Sub Inspector of Police Mazhar Hussain. As per the case, the trial court had awarded death sentence to accused Zehra alias Zaheer for killing an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Mazhar Hussain while the high court had awarded him seven-year imprisonment. The accused was convicted on the false testimony of one Muhammad Arshid, a volunteer in Police Department, Faisalabad.

On February 7, the chief justice while hearing the instant case, summoned Muhammad Arshad who allegedly gave false testimony in the case. The chief justice had observed that they had initiated process of taking strict action against people giving false testimonies in criminal cases and asked why all these things could not be examined in the lower courts. The chief justice had expressed surprise over the decision of the trial court, awarding death sentence based on false testimonies as well as the verdict of the high court giving life imprisonment to the accused.

The CJP observed that despite the fact that all other witnesses in the instant case had stated they did not witness any fire, why the trial court as well as the high court did not examine the facts. The chief justice had noted that the prime witness was police witness, adding that the way the witness Arshad volunteered to become a witness, he should also voluntarily be imprisoned. The apex court then had acquitted the accused after seven-year prison term on the benefit of doubt and directed CPO, Faisalabad to produce Muhammad Arshad before it on February 20.

On Wednesday, in pursuance of the court direction, Muhammad Arshid was produced before the court. He sought mercy of the court saying he is father of two small daughters. The chief justice told him that on his false testimony, a person was awarded death sentence. The chief justice further observed that being a volunteer in police he while saving the honor of police gave a false testimony.