The Supreme Court exonerates a father charged with poisoning his son and reverses the death penalty.

The Supreme Court has exonerated a father previously sentenced to death for purportedly poisoning his infant son, deeming the rulings of the High Court and Trial Court invalid.

Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim delivered the written judgment, mandating the prompt release of the defendant.

The court observed that it contradicts human nature for a parent to poison his own small kid, and the prosecution did not establish a motive for the father’s alleged actions.

The ruling indicated that pesticides were present at the residence for the cotton crop, and it was plausible that the youngster swallowed the poison independently.

The medical study indicates that a four-year-old is unable to differentiate between toxic and potable drinks.

The court highlighted inconsistencies and implausible aspects in eyewitness testimonies, observing that witnesses failed to offer credible justifications for their presence at the scene and were deemed incidental witnesses.

Additional inconsistencies were identified concerning the hue of the child’s garments as recounted by the physician and observers, while their neglect to examine the room or verify utensils cast doubt on their presence.

The Supreme Court underscored that delays in submitting the FIR further raise questions regarding the case’s veracity. Under criminal law, any single element of doubt entitles the accused to acquittal.

The event occurred in August 2019 in Sukkur, when four-year-old Mudassar, also known as Mithoo, reportedly died after ingesting poison.

The child’s father, Sultan, also known as Babu Jatoi, was alleged to have administered a toxic beverage to him in the face of witnesses.

The child’s maternal uncle initiated the case, resulting in the Trial Court sentencing Sultan Jatoi to death, a ruling subsequently affirmed by the High Court.