Quick answer: The sections Pakistanis cite most come from the Pakistan Penal Code (1860): 302 (murder), 324 (attempted murder), 34 (common intention), 376 (rape), 379 (theft), 420 (cheating), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 295-C (blasphemy). Procedure lives in the CrPC (1898) and CPC (1908); evidence in the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order (1984).
In this guide
PPC: offences and punishments
The Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 contains 511 sections across 23 chapters. The ones that matter in daily life and exams:
- Section 302 — qatl-i-amd (intentional murder): death as qisas, or life imprisonment/up to 25 years as ta’zir
- Section 324 — attempt to commit qatl-i-amd
- Section 34 — common intention: shared liability for a jointly planned act
- Sections 365–369 — kidnapping and abduction
- Section 376 — rape
- Sections 378–382 — theft and its aggravated forms
- Sections 390–402 — robbery and dacoity
- Sections 415–420 — cheating, including 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property)
- Sections 499–502 — defamation
- Section 506 — criminal intimidation
- Sections 295–298 — offences relating to religion, including 295-B and 295-C
- Section 124-A — sedition; Sections 141–160 — unlawful assembly and rioting
CrPC: how cases move
The Criminal Procedure Code, 1898 is the machinery: Section 154 (FIR registration), Section 497 (bail in non-bailable offences), Section 342 (statement of the accused), and the schedules classifying offences as bailable/non-bailable and cognizable/non-cognizable. When a news report says someone was “booked under 302/34”, the first number is the PPC offence and 34 adds common intention.
CPC: civil suits
The Civil Procedure Code, 1908 governs civil litigation — jurisdiction of courts, pleadings, interim injunctions (Order 39), and execution of decrees. Its famous Section 9 gives civil courts jurisdiction over suits of a civil nature unless barred.
How to read a section number
A citation like “302/34 PPC” means: offence under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code, with Section 34 (common intention) added. “154 CrPC” refers to procedure, not punishment. Always check the current amended text on pakistancode.gov.pk — sections are amended often, and exam books go stale. The complete Pakistan law guide puts these sections in their full system context.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the most important section of the PPC?
Section 302 (qatl-i-amd / murder) — the most cited and most litigated provision, carrying death or life imprisonment.
What does 302/34 mean in an FIR?
It means the accused are charged with murder (Section 302 PPC) committed with common intention (Section 34 PPC) — i.e. a jointly planned killing.
Which section is used for bail in Pakistan?
Section 497 CrPC governs bail in non-bailable offences; Section 496 CrPC covers bailable offences. Bail before arrest is sought under Section 498 CrPC.
