Practice area
Criminal Law
Bail, defence and complaint work before the Magistrates, the Court of Sessions and the High Court of Sindh.
A criminal case is at its most dangerous in the first forty-eight hours. Whether a pre-arrest bail application is moved in time, and whether the FIR is answered properly, shapes everything that follows.
We appear for the accused and for complainants across Karachi's District Courts, the Court of Sessions and the High Court of Sindh, in matters from bail to full trial and appeal.
What we handle
- Pre-arrest (anticipatory) bail under section 498 CrPC
- Post-arrest bail under section 497 CrPC, and bail before the High Court
- Registration of an FIR, and quashment of a false one
- Defence at trial before the Magistrate and the Court of Sessions
- Private complaints under section 200 CrPC
- Offences against property, including theft, cheating, criminal breach of trust and forgery
- Offences against the person, and cases arising from family and property disputes
- Appeals, revisions and criminal miscellaneous petitions in the High Court
- Quashment petitions under section 561-A CrPC
How a matter proceeds
- 01
Immediate steps
Where arrest is a live risk, an interim pre-arrest bail application is the first priority.
- 02
Reading the record
The FIR, the 161 statements and the investigation file are examined for the contradictions the defence will rest on.
- 03
Bail
Bail is argued on the facts of the case: whether the offence falls within the prohibitory clause, the role attributed to the accused, and any delay in lodging the FIR.
- 04
Trial
Charge, prosecution evidence, cross-examination, statement of the accused, and defence evidence.
- 05
Appeal
A conviction is challenged in appeal before the Sessions Court or the High Court, depending on the sentence.
Criminal Law: common questions
An FIR has been lodged against me. What do I do first?
Call a lawyer before you go anywhere near the police station, and do it today. In most cases the correct first step is an interim pre-arrest bail application. Do not give a statement, and do not try to negotiate with the complainant alone.
Can a false FIR be cancelled?
Yes. It can be closed on an investigation report, or quashed by the High Court under section 561-A CrPC where no offence is made out on the face of the FIR.
Do you take criminal cases at night or on a holiday?
Arrest does not keep office hours. Confirm our out-of-hours number when you first make contact.
Related work
Other practice areas
- Practice area
Civil Litigation
Suits, appeals and injunctions before the Civil Courts and the High Court of Sindh: declarations, possession, specific performance and recovery.
- Practice area
Property Law Matters
Title, transfer, possession and inheritance disputes over property in Sindh, together with the due diligence that prevents a dispute from arising.
- Practice area
Civil Liability Litigation
Claims for damages and compensation arising from negligence, defamation, malicious prosecution and professional or institutional failure.
- Practice area
Rent Law Matters
Ejectment, rent recovery and tenancy disputes before the Rent Controller under the Sindh Rented Premises Ordinance, 1979.
Consultation
Instruct the chambers.
Bring the complete file, including any document you consider unhelpful. You will receive a considered view of your position before any money is committed to litigation.