S.A. Latheef vs Hon. Attorney General – CA/HCC/0091/2009-2023

In the case between the Attorney General (Respondent/Complainant) and S.A. Latheef (Appellant/Accused), the court addressed the validity of a conviction based on circumstantial evidence, evidentiary irregularities, and proper direction to a jury in a murder trial. It was held that the conviction, grounded on insufficient compliance with statutory provisions, unreliable confessions, and misdirection of the jury concerning the burden and standard of proof, could not be sustained. The court reaffirmed the principle that the prosecution must establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt, especially when relying on circumstantial evidence. Reference was made to relevant provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code and the Evidence Ordinance, underscoring that failure to adhere to mandatory legal standar