⚖️ Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) Sections for Women’s Protection

Tue, July 22, 2025

 Your Guide to Legal Empowerment: Know the Law, Claim Your Rights!

Every woman and girl in Pakistan have the right to live free from violence and discrimination. Peace & Justice Network Pakistan has compiled key sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) to help you understand the legal protections available to women under Pakistani law — including punishments for harassment, assault, child marriage, acid attacks, rape, and more.

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⚫ Rape and Sexual Violence

Section 375 – Definition of rape: Penetration is sufficient to constitute the sexual intercourse necessary to the offence of rape.

Section 376 – 1) Punishment for rape ➤ Punishment: Death or 10–25 years imprisonment + fine

➤ 376(3) Whoever commits rape of a minor or a person with mental or physical disability shall be punished with death or imprisonment for life and fine

➤ 376(4) Whoever being a public servant including a police officer, medical officer or jailor, taking advantage of his official position, commits rape shall be punished with death or imprisonment for life and fine

Section 376A – Disclosure of identity of victim of rape, etc. ➤ Punishment: upto 3 years + fine

Note - Criminal Law Amendment 2020: Public hanging permitted for heinous rape, expedited trials, parole ban.

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⚫ Insulting Modesty or Causing Sexual Harassment

Section 509 – Sexual harassment through words, gestures, or invasion of privacy (e.g., stalking, lewd remarks) or conducts sexual advances, or demands sexual favours or uses verbal or non-verbal communication or physical conduct of a sexual nature which intends to annoy, insult, intimidate or threaten the other person or commits such acts at the premises of workplace ➤ Punishment: Up to 3 years imprisonment and/or fine up to Rs. 500,000

Section 294 – Obscene acts and songs in public places ➤ Punishment: Up to 3 months imprisonment + fine

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⚫ Honor Killing and Murder of Women

Section 302 – Punishment for murder ➤ Punishment: Death or life imprisonment

Section 311 & 310 – Limits forgiveness (Qisas/Diyat) in honor killings ➤ Punishment: death or imprisonment for life

Section 338(E) – Honor-based crimes: Clearly states “honor” is not a defense for killing a woman ➤ Punishment: Treated under 302 murder provisions

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⚫ Domestic Violence and Hurt

Section 337-A to 337-L – Hurt (physical injury) classifications ➤ Punishment: Fine to life imprisonment, based on injury severity

Section 509 – Covers emotional and verbal abuse (used in DV cases in absence of specific federal law) ➤ Punishment: Up to 3 years + fine (used in DV cases)

(Note: Domestic violence is also dealt with under provincial DV Acts in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Islamabad)

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⚫ Acid Attacks and Disfigurement

Section 336 – Causing hurt by corrosive substance (acid attack) ➤ Punishment: Up to 10 years imprisonment + Daman

Section 336A/B – Specifics on acid and burn-related violence ➤ Punishment: 14 years to life imprisonment + Rs. 1 million fine

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⚫ Forced and Child Marriage

Section 310A – Giving a woman in marriage as compensation (Vani, Swara) ➤ Punishment: 3 to 7 years imprisonment + Rs. 500,000 fine

Section 498B – Forced marriage of women ➤ Punishment: 3–7 years imprisonment + Rs. 500,000 fine. In case of female child or non-Muslim women 5–10 years imprisonment + Rs. 1 million fine

Section 498C – Marriage to the Qur’an (criminalized) ➤ Punishment: 3–7 years imprisonment + Rs. 500,000 fine

Note: Child Marriage Restraint Act – Separate law (amended in Sindh and Islamabad (ICT): age 18)

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⚫ Abduction, Kidnapping, and Trafficking

Section 364A – Kidnapping for ransom or harm ➤ Punishment: Death or life imprisonment

Section 365B – Kidnapping/abduction to compel a woman into marriage or rape ➤ Punishment: Life imprisonment + fine
Section 366 – Kidnapping/abducting a woman to force her into illicit intercourse or marriage ➤ Punishment: Up to 10 years imprisonment + fine

Section 367A – Abduction for “unnatural lust” ➤ Punishment: Death or 25 years imprisonment + fine

Section 371A/B – Buying or selling a person for prostitution ➤ Punishment: Up to 25 years imprisonment + fine

Section 372/373 – Exploitation of minor girls for prostitution ➤ Punishment: Up to 10 years imprisonment + fine

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⚫ Denial of Inheritance Rights

Section 498A – Depriving a woman from inheriting property ➤ Punishment: 5–10 years imprisonment + Rs. 1 million fine

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⚫ Other Relevant Sections

Section 354 – Assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty ➤ Punishment: Up to 2 years imprisonment or fine or both

Section 354A – Stripping a woman in public (severe punishment: death/life imprisonment) ➤ Punishment: Death penalty or life imprisonment

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Message by Peace & Justice Network Pakistan for Gender Just Pakistan

 “Every woman and girl in Pakistan deserves to live free from fear, violence, and discrimination. At Peace & Justice Network, we believe that a just, peaceful, and inclusive society begins with protecting the rights, dignity, and safety of women and girls — in homes, schools, workplaces, and public spaces. We call on all institutions, communities, and individuals to stand united in creating a Pakistan where gender equality is not a dream, but a lived reality. Together, let us build a society where women are respected, protected, and empowered to thrive.”

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