A significant legal reform has been approved by the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Interior, making deaths caused by reckless driving a non-bailable offense under Section 320 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). The amendment is part of the Criminal Law Amendment Bill 2024, aimed at strengthening legal accountability for fatal road accidents.
The bill, introduced by Member of the National Assembly Sharmila Faruqui, was unanimously passed during a session chaired by Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz. The law seeks to ensure that individuals involved in fatal road incidents due to negligent or dangerous driving cannot seek bail once arrested.
Push for Accountability in Fatal Road Accidents
Sharmila Faruqui argued that allowing bail in cases where lives are lost to reckless driving weakens the justice system. She cited statistics and specific incidents to support the need for stricter legal consequences. “In Islamabad alone, 128 people died in road accidents last year,” she stated. “There was a case where a woman killed someone through negligent driving and was eventually acquitted. This highlights why the law must change.”
The Law Ministry supported the amendment, emphasizing that the new provision would better reflect the gravity of such incidents. Under the current legal framework, Section 320 allows for imprisonment of up to ten years for reckless driving that results in death, but the offense is considered bailable. If ratified by parliament, the proposed changes will remove the option for bail, sending a strong message about accountability on the roads.
Other Legislative Developments
In the same session, the committee approved the Anti-Terrorism Amendment Bill 2024 without opposition. However, members affiliated with PTI-supported groups were notably absent.
Meanwhile, the Criminal Procedure Code (CRPC) Amendment Bill 2025 was deferred to the next meeting. The Law Ministry requested more time to present additional information before a final decision is made.
Debate on Legal and Moral Implications
The amendment also sparked a brief debate on its social and moral dimensions. PML-N lawmaker Abdul Qadir Patel acknowledged the devastating impact of road accidents but urged lawmakers to show empathy. “Accidents are not limited to any class. Even God forgives mistakes,” he said.
Faruqui countered, “If we believe forgiveness should be the default, why have any punishment for manslaughter at all?”
The dialogue reflected differing views on the balance between legal deterrence and compassion in road accident cases. However, the broader consensus in the session leaned toward stricter consequences for actions that result in loss of life.
What Happens Next?
The proposed amendment to Section 320 must now be ratified by the full Parliament before becoming law. If passed, it will officially remove the option of bail for those charged with causing death through reckless driving, marking a pivotal shift in how such cases are handled in Pakistan’s legal system.
