The Role of Key Phrases Employed in First Information Report (FIR) against Perpetrators for Sentencing Decision: A Forensic Linguistic Analysis

Abstract

Present study was designed to explore the role of key phrases employed in First Information Report (FIR) against perpetrators for sentencing decision. It was a qualitative research based on document analysis approach in nature. Data were collected by reviewing purposely selected sentenced murder filed case from courts across Pakistan as a sample for this study. The researcher followed the forensic linguistics analytical techniques to analyze the data. During the forensic analysis of key phrases, all legal processes initiating from investigation officer to prosecutors and then to the promulgation of sentencing of decision by the respective judges, were found to be based on the phrases employed in the FIR. All witnesses and proofs (in the favor or against) were collected to prove or disprove the phrases drafted and employed in the FIR while prosecution in the trial court. Moreover, the hearings of single and double judge’s benches were physically attended to witness all proceedings of the cases and the role of key phrases was closely observed in action from prosecutors to verdicts by judges. After forensic analysis, it was found that there was a significant role of key phrases employed in First Information Report (FIR) against perpetrators for sentencing decision. The sentenced decision was found to be based on key phrases considered by judges and prosecutors as well.