Mansehra: Bail Rejected for Accused Hamza Ali Khan in Phulra Murder Case

Mansehra – District and Sessions Judge Mansehra, Arbab Aziz Ahmed, has rejected the post-arrest bail application of accused Hamza Ali Khan in a gruesome murder case registered within the jurisdiction of Phulra Police Station, citing the gravity of the offence and solid evidence.
Case Details
According to the court verdict, accused Hamza Ali Khan is alleged to have opened fire on the deceased Abbas Arshad, killing him in a case of intentional murder. On this basis, FIR No. 43 under Section 302 PPC was registered at Phulra Police Station, Mansehra, on 13 February 2026.
Hearing and Arguments
During the hearing, the accused's counsel (Messrs Sardar Asif and Majid Khan) argued in favour of release on bail, while Assistant Public Prosecutor Karamatullah Khan and the complainant's counsel Shad Muhammad Khan strongly opposed the bail plea.
Grounds for Rejecting Bail
In its detailed verdict, the court rejected the bail application on the following key grounds:
1. Direct Involvement:
The FIR was lodged promptly, in which the accused's direct and effective role in firing at the deceased, Abbas Arshad, is clearly alleged.
2. Statements of Witnesses:
During the investigation, four eyewitnesses (Faizan, Osama, Hasnain and Waqas) got their statements recorded under Section 161 CrPC, fully corroborating the complainant's stance.
3. Confirmation by Medical Report:
During the post-mortem of the deceased, the doctor found two gunshot wounds on the body, further strengthening the prosecution's case.
4. Rejection of the Cross Version:
The cross FIR (No. 42) lodged by the accused's side was found by the investigating officer during the investigation to be baseless and unsupported by evidence, on which basis its exclusion has already been recommended.
5. Trial at Final Stages:
The court was told that the trial against the accused is proceeding swiftly, with statements of nine key witnesses recorded so far, and the case is in its final stages.
Court's Remarks
While announcing the verdict, Sessions Judge Arbab Aziz Ahmed remarked that a prima facie case of a serious offence exists against the accused, which falls within the prohibitory limits of Section 497 CrPC.
Therefore, at this crucial stage of the trial, the accused is not entitled to release on bail under any circumstances.
The court issued orders to transfer the case file to the Record Room after complete indexing.