Pakistan Penal Code
The Pakistan Penal Code, abbreviated as PPC, is a penal code for all offences charged in Pakistan. After the creation of Pakistan in 1947, the country inherited the Indian Penal Code, originally prepared by Lord Macaulay in 1860 on behalf of the government of British India. Subsequently after several amendments by different governments, in Pakistan it is now a mixture of Islamic and English law. Presently, the Pakistan Penal Code is still in effect and can be amended by the Parliament of Pakistan.
History
The draft of the Indian Penal Code was prepared by the First Law Commission, and it was chaired by Lord Macaulay. Its basis is the law of England freed from superfluities, technicalities and local peculiarities. Suggestions were also derived from the French Penal Code and from Livingstone's Code of Louisiana. The draft underwent a very careful revision at the hands of Sir Barnes Peacock, Chief Justice, and puisne Judges of the Calcutta Supreme Court who were members of the Legislative Council, and it was passed into law in 1860. Macaulay did not survive to see the Penal Code's enactment.Though it is principally the work of a man who had hardly held a brief, and whose time was devoted to politics and literature, it was universally acknowledged to be a monument of codification and an everlasting memorial to the high juristic attainments of its distinguished author. For example, even cybercrimes can be punished under the code.
Structure
The Pakistan Penal Code consists of 23 chapters, and 511 sections covering various offenses and regulations. The PPC's jurisdiction applies throughout Pakistan and anyone who resides in the country.| Chapter | Sections covered | Classification of offences |
| Chapter I | Sections 1—5 | Introduction |
| Chapter II | Sections 6—52A | General Explanations |
| Chapter III | Sections 53—75 | Of Punishments |
| Chapter IV | Sections 76—106 | General Exceptions |
| Chapter V | Sections 107—120 | Of Abetment |
| Chapter VA | Sections 120A—120B | Criminal Conspiracy |
| Chapter VI | Sections 121—130 | Of Offences against the State |
| Chapter VII | Sections 131—140 | Of Offences relating to the Army, Navy and Air Force |
| Chapter VIII | Sections 141—160 | Of Offences against the Public Tranquillity |
| Chapter IX | Sections 161—171 | Of Offences by or relating to Public Servants |
| Chapter IXA | Sections 171A—171I | Of Offences Relating to Elections |
| Chapter X | Sections 172—190 | Of Contempts of Lawful Authority of Public Servants |
| Chapter XI | Sections 191—229 | Of False Evidence and Offences against Public Justice |
| Chapter XII | Sections 230—263 | Of Offences relating to coin and Government Stamps |
| Chapter XIII | Sections 264—267 | Of Offences relating to Weight and Measures |
| Chapter XIV | Sections 268—294 | Of Offences affecting the Public Health, Safety, Convenience, Decency and Morals. |
| Chapter XV | Sections 295—298 | Of Offences relating to Religion |
| Chapter XVI | Sections 299—377 | Of Offences affecting the Human Body. |
| Chapter XVII | Sections 378—462 | Of Offences Against Property |
| Chapter XVIIIA | Sections 462A—462F | Of Offences relating to Oil and Gas, etc |
| Chapter XVIII | Section 463—489E | Offences relating to Documents and Property Marks
|
| Chapter XIX | Sections 490—492 | Of the Criminal Breach of Contracts of Service |
| Chapter XX | Sections 493—498 | Of Offences related to marriage |
| Chapter XXA | Section 498A—498B | Of Cruelty by Husband or Relatives of Husband |
| Chapter XXI | Sections 499—502 | Of Defemation |
| Chapter XXII | Sections 503—510 | Of Criminal Intimidation, Insult and Annoyance |
| Chapter XXIII | Section 511A—511B | Of Attempts to Commit Offences |
Section 53 (Punishments)
The punishments to which offenders are liable under the provisions of this Code are:- Qisas ;
- Diyat;
- Arsh ;
- Daman ;
- Ta'zir
- Death;
- Imprisonment for life;
- Imprisonment, which is of two descriptions, namely:--
- # Rigorous ;
- # Simple;
- Forfeiture of property;
- Fine
PPC Criminal Offences
This law states that any person who commits a crime within Pakistan will be punished according to the laws of Pakistan and no other laws.- 378. Theft :
- * Theft occurs when a person intentionally takes movable property from another person without their consent. This act involves moving the property with the intent to steal it. The property must be capable of being moved, and consent to take it can be explicit or implied. Even causing an animal to move property unintentionally can constitute theft. However, taking something unintentionally or believing it to be one's own property does not constitute theft.
- * 379. Punishment for Theft : Whoever commits theft shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
- 383. Extortion:
- * Extortion occurs when a person intentionally instills fear of harm in another individual to dishonestly obtain property, valuable securities, or documents that can be transformed into valuable securities. This includes threats such as defamation, kidnapping, or property damage.
- * 384. Punishment for extortion: Whoever, commits extortion shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
- 425. Mischief:
- * Mischief occurs when someone intentionally or recklessly destroys or damages property, causing wrongful loss or harm to the public or an individual. This includes actions that diminish the property's value, utility, or causes harm in any way. The intent to harm the property owner is not necessary; it is sufficient to intend to cause harm to anyone through property damage. Mischief can be committed against one's own property or jointly owned property.
- * 426. Punishment for mischief: Whoever commits mischief shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine, or with both.
- 441. Criminal trespass:
- * Whoever enters into or upon property in the possession of another with intent to commit an offence or to intimidate, insult or annoy any person in possession of such property, or, having lawfully entered into or upon such property, unlawfully remains there with intent thereby to intimidate, insult or annoy any such person, or with intent to commit an offence, is said to commit "criminal trespass".
- * 447. Punishment for criminal trespass: Whoever commits criminal trespass shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to Rs 1500, or with both.
- 442. House-trespass:
- * Whoever commits criminal trespass by entering into or remaining in any building, tent or vessel used as a human dwelling or any building used as a place for worship, or as a place for the custody of property, is said to commit "house-trespass". Explanation: The introduction of any part of the criminal trespasser's body is entering sufficient to constitute house trespass.
- * 448. Punishment for house-trespass: Whoever commits house-trespass shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to Rs 3000, or with both.
Amendments
| S. No. | Short title of amending legislation | Type | No. | Year |
| 1 | Adaptation of Central Acts and Ordinances Order, 1949 | Ordinance | 4 | 1949 |
| 2 | Criminal Law Act, XXXVII of 1953 | Ordinance | 37 | 1953 |
| 3 | Pakistan Penal Code Ordinance, LIX of 1962 | Ordinance | 59 | 1962 |
| 4 | Pakistan Penal Code Act, XX of 1965 | Legislative Act | 20 | 1965 |
| 5 | Pakistan Penal Code Act, XXVII of 1970 | Legislative Act | 27 | 1970 |
| 6 | Offence of Zina Ordinance, VII of 1979 | Ordinance | 7 | 1979 |
| 7 | Pakistan Penal Code Ordinance, XLIV of 1980 | Ordinance | 44 | 1980 |
| 8 | Pakistan Penal Code Ordinance, XLI of 1980 | Ordinance | 41 | 1980 |
| 9 | Criminal Laws Ordinance, III of 1980 | Ordinance | 3 | 1980 |
| 10 | Federal Laws Ordinance, XXVII of 1981 | Ordinance | 27 | 1981 |
| 11 | Pakistan Penal Code Ordinance, XXX of 1981 | Ordinance | 30 | 1981 |
| 12 | P.P.C. Ordinance, I of 1982 | Ordinance | 1 | 1982 |
| 13 | Anti-lslamic Activities Ordinance XX of 1984 | Ordinance | 20 | 1984 |
| 14 | Criminal Law Ordinance, XXIV of 1984 | Ordinance | 24 | 1984 |
| 15 | Criminal Law Act, III of 1990 | Legislative Act | 3 | 1990 |
| 16 | Criminal Law Act, VII of 1993 | Legislative Act | 7 | 1993 |
| 17 | Criminal Law Act, I of 1996 | Legislative Act | 1 | 1996 |
| 18 | Pakistan Penal Code Act, XVI of 1996 | Legislative Act | 16 | 1996 |
| 19 | Anti-Terrorism Act, XXVII of 1997 | Legislative Act | 27 | 1997 |
| 20 | Criminal Law Act, II of 1997 | Legislative Act | 2 | 1997 |
| 21 | Criminal Law Ordinance, LXXXV of 2002 | Ordinance | 85 | 2002 |
| 22 | Criminal Laws Ordinance, LXXXVI of 2002 | Ordinance | 86 | 2002 |
| 23 | Criminal Law Act, I of 2005 | Legislative Act | 1 | 2005 |
| 24 | Protection of Women Act, 2006 | Legislative Act | 6 | 2006 |
| 25 | Criminal Law Act, I of 2010 | Legislative Act | 1 | 2010 |
| 26 | Criminal Law Act, XX of 2011 | Legislative Act | 20 | 2011 |
| 27 | Criminal Law Act, XXV of 2011 | Legislative Act | 25 | 2011 |
| 28 | Criminal Law Act, XXVI of 2011 | Legislative Act | 26 | 2011 |
| 29 | Criminal Law Act, XXIII of 2012 | Legislative Act | 23 | 2012 |
| 30 | Criminal Law Act, VI of 2016 | Legislative Act | 6 | 2016 |
| 32 | Criminal Law Act, XLIII of 2016 | Legislative Act | 43 | 2016 |
| 31 | Criminal Law Act, 2016 | Legislative Act | 44 | 2016 |
| 33 | Criminal Law Act, IV of 2017 | Legislative Act | 4 | 2017 |
| 34 | Criminal Law Act, II of 2024 | Legislative Act | 2 | 2024 |