24/08/2026
2026 SCMR 251
As per report of Medical Officer, at the time of post mortem, rigor mortis was fully developed---Rigor mortis signified the post-mortem stiffening of both voluntary and involuntary muscles in the human body---Such process typically commenced within 2 to 4 hours after death and achieved full development within approximately 12 hours in a temperate climate---Similarly, the reverse process with which rigor mortis disappeared was called algor mortis---In sudden natural deaths occurring in a temperate climate during average seasonal conditions rigor mortis usually commenced within 2 to 4 hours of death, which reached to a peak in about 12 hours and started to disappear after another 12 hours---Admittedly, the deceased was young male of 26 years in a temperate climate area where the weather was comparatively hot even in early winters---Occurrence statedly took place at 06:00 p.m. and the post-mortem was conducted the next day at 01:30a.m. i.e. after 7-1/2 hours---Swift development of complete rigor mortis on the body of young adult deceased in the temperate region contradicted the time of occurrence deposed by the prosecution witnesses and development of rigor mortis within such short span of time was implausible which suggested that the occurrence did not appear to have taken place at the point of time mentioned by the witnesses---Determination of time was further clarified by deposition of Medical Officer who conducted post-mortem of deceased---Said Medical Officer admitted during the cross-examination that as per his report, the time duration between death and post mortem was sixteen to eighteen hours and by that calculation the death occurred on 15.10.2005 in between 7:30 a.m. to 09:30 a.m.---Said witness further admitted that according to the condition of dead body it was impossible that death occurred in between 05:00 p.m. to 07:00 p.m. as alleged by prosecution---Deposition of expert witness/Medical Officer also appeared to be in accord with the medical jurisprudence---
*M.Yahya Khan Handlana Sial AHC 03007681455
