Pakistan’s Federal Shariat Court has reversed one of the country’s most significant recent mental health law reforms ruling that the 2022 legislation decriminalising suicide attempts was un-Islamic and striking it down entirely.
The verdict, announced Monday by a three-member bench, restores Section 325 of the Pakistan Penal Code making attempted suicide a criminal offence once again.
The Verdict What the FSC Decided
The FSC bench comprising Chief Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rahman, Justice Dr Syed Muhammad Anwer, and Justice Ameer Muhammad Khan delivered the reserved verdict on May 18, 2026.
The court declared the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act 2022 repugnant to the injunctions of the Holy Quran and Sunnah.
By striking down the suicide attempts decriminalisation law, the court accepted petitions challenging the legislation and restored the original Section 325 PPC in full.
What Section 325 PPC Says
Section 325 of the Pakistan Penal Code states: “Whoever attempts to commit suicide and does any act towards the commission of such offence shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.”
The restoration of this provision means that individuals who survive a suicide attempt can once again face criminal prosecution, imprisonment, or fines under Pakistani law.
How the 2022 Law Was Passed
The journey to decriminalisation was long and hard-fought. A bill was first introduced in the Senate in 2017 but lapsed due to elections.
Senator Shahadat Awan of PPP reintroduced the bill in September 2021. The Senate passed it in May 2022, the National Assembly in October 2022, and then-President Arif Alvi signed it into law in December 2022. Advocates described it as a landmark step in treating suicidal behaviour as a mental health issue rather than a criminal act.
Who Challenged the Law And Why
Advocate Hammad Saeed Dar filed the petition challenging the suicide attempts decriminalisation law before the FSC in 2023.
He argued that suicide is forbidden in Islam and that decriminalising it was against the injunctions of the Holy Quran and Sunnah. His petition argued it was the state’s responsibility to protect citizens’ lives and that Section 325 served as a deterrent toward that goal.
Mental Health Community’s Position
Mental health experts, psychiatrists, and international organisations had strongly supported the 2022 reform. Their central argument was that criminalising suicidal behaviour actively prevents people in crisis from seeking help.
Researchers noted in peer-reviewed publications that Section 325 PPC had historically been exploited by police with survivors and their families facing harassment, extortion, and prosecution at their most vulnerable moments. The World Health Organisation and International Association for Suicide Prevention both support decriminalisation globally.
The Colonial Roots of Section 325
The original punishment for suicide in Pakistan law traces directly to British colonial-era legislation the Indian Penal Code of 1860.
Ironically, the United Kingdom itself decriminalised suicide in 1961 over 60 years before Pakistan finally did so in 2022. Mental health advocates had long argued that Pakistan’s continued use of a colonial-era law to criminalise suicidal behaviour reflected a fundamental misunderstanding of both Islamic teaching and modern mental health science.
What Comes Next Appeal Possible
The FSC ruling can be challenged in the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s Shariat Appellate Bench.
Mental health organisations, civil society groups, and legal advocates are expected to explore that avenue. The government named as a respondent in the original FSC petition through the President, Prime Minister, and Law Ministry will also need to formally respond to the ruling and determine whether it will appeal.
A Note on Mental Health Support
This article covers a legally and socially sensitive topic. If you or someone you know is experiencing distress, mental health support is available in Pakistan through Umang helpline at 0317-4288665 and the Rozan Counselling helpline at 051-2890505. Reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Attempted Suicide Now a Crime Again in Pakistan?
Yes. With the FSC striking down the suicide attempts decriminalisation law of 2022, Section 325 PPC has been fully restored. Attempted suicide is once again a criminal offence in Pakistan punishable by up to one year of simple imprisonment, a fine, or both. The ruling came into effect on May 18, 2026. The government or affected parties can challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court’s Shariat Appellate Bench.
What Was Section 325 PPC and Why Was It Repealed?
Section 325 PPC criminalised suicide attempts under Pakistan’s colonial-era penal code inherited directly from the British Indian Penal Code of 1860. It was repealed in December 2022 through the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act after years of advocacy by mental health professionals, civil society, and international health organisations. Advocates argued that prosecuting people in psychological crisis deepened trauma, deterred help-seeking, and enabled police exploitation of vulnerable individuals. The UK whose colonial law Pakistan inherited had itself decriminalised suicide in 1961.
What Is the New Legal Position on Abetment of Suicide?
Abetment encouraging, facilitating, or assisting another person to take their own life remains a serious criminal offence under Section 306 of the Pakistan Penal Code and was not affected by the 2022 amendment or the FSC’s 2026 ruling. Anyone found guilty of abetting suicide faces imprisonment of up to ten years and a fine. The suicide attempts decriminalisation law of 2022 only addressed the criminalisation of the person who survived their own attempt it never touched the provisions relating to those who push, coerce, or assist others toward suicide.
