Islamabad (HRNW)- Supreme Court Justice Jamal Mandokhel has remarked during the hearing of a case that only Allah Almighty knows the true intentions of a judge and that the court should not be pushed toward making observations regarding dishonesty.
The Supreme Court directed the trial court to correct the record concerning allegedly inaccurate witness statements in the murder case of Sanam Imrani, sister of Nayab Imrani. The court ordered that all necessary corrections be completed within two weeks of receiving the court’s order.
During the hearing, Justice Jamal Mandokhel asked whether the witness statements had been properly recorded. The accused’s counsel informed the court that the High Court had already ordered the issuance of a memorandum and that there was no objection to that order.
Justice Mandokhel observed that the proper recording of testimony is a judicial matter and questioned whether errors brought to the court’s attention should not be corrected. During the proceedings, counsel for Nayab Imrani argued that even the date of the incident had been incorrectly recorded in the case file.
In response, Justice Mandokhel emphasized the importance of accurate records and stated that the court fully understands the significance of historical facts. The petitioner’s lawyer also contended that parts of the cross-examination had not been properly included in the official record.
Justice Mandokhel directed the parties to focus specifically on identifying errors in the recorded testimony. He further observed that had the matter been corrected at an earlier stage, it would not have reached the Supreme Court. He also noted that the Supreme Court possesses broad powers under Article 187 of the Constitution.
The judge reiterated that only Allah knows a judge’s intentions and cautioned against arguments that could compel the court to comment on issues of dishonesty. While discussing possible options, he questioned whether the High Court should be directed to investigate the matter, but later clarified that the Supreme Court’s focus was solely on ensuring the accuracy of witness testimonies.
The petitioner had approached the Supreme Court alleging that false statements had been recorded in the case, prompting the court to issue directions for correction of the trial record.
Support independent journalism and public-interest reporting through HRNW. Your contribution helps us continue providing accurate and timely coverage of important legal, social, and national developments.
Donate here:https://www.hrnww.com/?page_id=1083
