The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Interior has approved a key amendment to the Pakistan Penal Code, making reckless driving deaths a non-bailable offence under Section 320.
The move follows growing public concern over fatal road accidents in the capital. As per the amendment, a driver would not be able to secure bail if their reckless driving causes a death.
Non-bailable offence for reckless driving deaths
In a session chaired by Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz, the committee gave the green light to the Criminal Law Amendment Bill 2024, introduced by PPP MNA Sharmila Faruqui. The amendment aims to hold drivers more accountable when lives are lost due to negligent or dangerous driving.
Faruqui stressed that the current legal provision, which allows bail even after a fatal accident, undermines justice. She sought to make provisions for the crime of manslaughter to be non-bailable.
“Last year, 128 people died in road accidents in Islamabad alone. A woman killed someone and was acquitted — this shows the urgency for reform,” she said.
The Law Ministry supported the amendment to Section 320, and the bill was passed unanimously by those in attendance.
Anti-Terrorism Bill passed, CRPC bill deferred
The committee also approved the Anti-Terrorism Amendment Bill 2024 without any opposition. Notably, no members affiliated with PTI-backed factions attended the meeting.
Meanwhile, the CRPC Amendment Bill 2025 was deferred to the next session following a request by the Law Ministry, which stated that more details would be presented later.
Mixed views on legal implications
During the debate, PML-N’s Abdul Qadir Patel acknowledged the emotional nature of road accident cases but called for compassion. “Accidents are not committed by the rich or poor alone. Even God forgives mistakes,” Patel remarked.
Faruqui responded, “If forgiveness is the only standard, why not scrap the entire punishment for culpable homicide?”
Currently, Section 320 of the penal code prescribes up to 10 years in prison for reckless driving deaths — but the offense is bailable. That will change once the proposed amendment is ratified by parliament.
