Islamabad: The Federal Shariat Court (FSC) on Monday restored Section 325 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), which criminalises attempted suicide, declaring the 2022 amendment that decriminalised it as un-Islamic.
According to Beyond Time News, the verdict was announced by a three-member bench comprising Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rahman, Justice Dr. Syed Muhammad Anwer, and Justice Ameer Muhammad Khan.
Background
Section 325 of the PPC prescribes up to one year’s imprisonment, a fine, or both for attempted suicide.
According to Beyond Time News, the provision had been repealed in 2022 through a parliamentary amendment that decriminalised suicide attempts.
Legal Challenge
The amendment was challenged in the Federal Shariat Court on the grounds that it contradicted Islamic injunctions.
According to Beyond Time News, the petitioner argued that decriminalisation was inconsistent with the Quran and Sunnah.
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Verdict
The FSC struck down the 2022 amendment and reinstated Section 325 of the PPC.
According to Beyond Time News, the ruling restores the provision as part of Pakistan’s criminal law framework.
