Supreme Court Sets Eight Principles for Cancelling Bail, Upholds Sindh High Court Order

Islamabad (online): The Supreme Court has laid down eight principles for cancelling an accused person’s bail. Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar authored the judgment. In the same ruling, the court upheld a Sindh High Court order granting bail to an accused, and the petition seeking cancellation was therefore dismissed.

According to the judgment, bail may be cancelled if the order granting it appears, prima facie, to be illegal or unjust. Bail will also be withdrawn if the accused misuses the concession. The court held that bail will not stand if the accused tries to influence prosecution witnesses, pressure them, or obstruct their path in a manner that affects the evidence.

The Supreme Court further said bail will be cancelled if there is a likelihood that the accused will flee beyond the jurisdiction of the court. An attempt to interfere with the transparent process of investigation will also be grounds for cancellation. Bail will likewise be cancelled if the accused exploits his liberty to commit another offence of the same nature, or if new facts and evidence emerge during the investigation indicating his involvement in the crime.

The case was registered at Rahmatpur police station in Larkana. According to the FIR, the incident occurred on 3 March 2024. While a special line was being drawn from the disposal phase to supply electricity to shops, a wire snapped and a man named Noor Hussain was killed. The Sessions Judge in Larkana dismissed the pre-arrest bail application of the accused, Ali Asghar Khokhar, on 30 January 2025. Subsequently, the Larkana circuit bench of the Sindh High Court granted him bail on 20 October 2025, citing a nine-month delay in lodging the FIR and other grounds. A petition was then filed in the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of that order.

The Supreme Court held that the nine-month delay in the FIR and the accused’s role required further inquiry. It therefore upheld the Sindh High Court’s decision. The court also directed that a copy of the judgment be sent to the Chairman of WAPDA for information. It further stated that WAPDA and the relevant utility company should examine the role of those involved in the illegal supply of electricity, theft and private syphoning.