Law Study & Research · Published August 15, 2026
Common Legal Sections (Dafaat) in Pakistan Explained
"Dafa 420," "dafa 302," "497 ki zamanat" — Pakistani legal conversation runs on section numbers most people have heard but never actually looked up. Here's what the ones that come up most often actually say.
Quick answer
Dafaat (دفعات) is simply Urdu for "sections." Most everyday legal conversation in Pakistan revolves around a small set of provisions from the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) 1860 — like 302 (murder), 379 (theft), and 420 (cheating) — and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) 1898 — like 154 (FIR registration) and 497/498 (bail). Knowing the label is useful; knowing how it applies to your specific facts requires a lawyer.
Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) — the sections people ask about most
Qatl-i-amd (murder)
Punishment for intentional killing — one of the most serious offences under the Pakistan Penal Code, carrying death or life imprisonment depending on the facts and, in Qisas/Diyat cases, the choices of the victim's legal heirs.
Attempt to commit qatl-i-amd
Covers an act done with the intention or knowledge to cause death, where death does not actually result. Frequently charged alongside 302 when the outcome of an assault is uncertain or the victim survives.
Hurt (Qisas categories)
A family of subsections defining different degrees and types of bodily hurt under the Qisas and Diyat framework — from simple hurt to hurt causing permanent disability — each with its own punishment and, in some categories, the possibility of Qisas (retribution) or Diyat (compensation).
Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty
Covers physical assault or force against a woman intended or likely to outrage her modesty, short of the more serious offences defined separately.
Theft
Dishonestly taking movable property out of someone's possession without consent — the baseline theft provision that more specific offences (like 381 for theft by a clerk/servant) build on.
Criminal breach of trust
Covers dishonest misappropriation of property entrusted to someone — commonly relevant in employer-employee, partner, or agent disputes over money or goods handled on another's behalf.
Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property
The classic fraud provision — deceiving someone into handing over property or altering a valuable security. Covered in depth in our dedicated guide (linked below).
Dishonestly issuing a cheque
Criminalises issuing a cheque knowing there won't be sufficient funds to honour it, with intent to deceive — a common charge in commercial and rent disputes when a post-dated cheque bounces.
Sedition
Covers acts or words intended to bring the government into hatred, contempt, or excite disaffection against it — a section frequently in the news, and one where the boundary with protected speech under Article 19 of the Constitution is actively contested in the courts.
Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) — the sections that shape how a case moves
Registration of an FIR
Requires an officer in charge of a police station to record information disclosing a cognizable offence — the mandatory first step in a criminal case. See our full guide on filing an FIR (linked below).
Police examination of witnesses
Empowers police to orally examine any person acquainted with the facts of a case during investigation and record their statement — these statements are not signed by the witness and generally can't be used as substantive evidence at trial, only to contradict a witness.
Statement or confession recorded by a Magistrate
Allows a Magistrate to record a statement or confession during investigation, with specific safeguards (like confirming a confession is voluntary) that make it carry far more evidentiary weight than a police statement under Section 161.
Police report (challan)
The report police submit to the Magistrate once investigation is complete, summarising the evidence and stating whether there's sufficient ground to proceed to trial. This is what most people mean when they ask if the "challan has been submitted."
Private complaint to a Magistrate
Lets a person approach a Magistrate directly with a complaint, without going through the police — a route worth knowing about when police refuse to act on a report.
Bail
Section 497 governs bail in non-bailable offences (where it's discretionary, subject to specific grounds); Section 498 covers the wider power of the High Court or Sessions Court to grant bail. These are the two sections behind almost every bail hearing you'll hear about.
Why a section number is a starting point, not an answer
- A section number alone tells you the label, not the outcome — the same section can apply very differently depending on the specific facts, any amendments in force, and how the courts in your jurisdiction have interpreted it.
- Many PPC sections interact with special laws that override or supplement them — cybercrime under PECA 2016, terrorism-related offences under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, or narcotics offences under the Control of Narcotic Substances Act 1997 are tried under different procedures entirely.
- "Dafaat" (دفعات) is simply the Urdu plural for legal sections — when someone asks "kis dafa ke tehat case darj hai" (under which section was the case filed), they're asking exactly this: which PPC or CrPC provision applies to their situation.
- Never rely on a section number you've only heard secondhand — verify the actual text against the official Pakistan Code, and confirm with a lawyer how it applies to your specific facts before you act on it.
What Wakeel.org can help with
Explaining what a specific PPC or CrPC section says, in plain English or Urdu, and how it's generally applied — grounded in the actual statutory text rather than a paraphrase you can't verify.
What it cannot do
It cannot tell you which section(s) a police officer or court should have applied to your specific facts, predict a case outcome, or replace a licensed advocate's advice on strategy or defence.
Frequently asked questions
What does "dafaat" mean in Pakistani law?
Dafaat (دفعات) is the Urdu word for "sections" — the numbered provisions of a statute like the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) or the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). When someone refers to "Dafa 302" they mean Section 302 of the PPC (qatl-i-amd/murder).
What is Section 302 PPC?
Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code defines and punishes qatl-i-amd (intentional killing/murder). Depending on the facts and, in Qisas/Diyat cases, the wishes of the victim's legal heirs, punishment can include death, life imprisonment, or in certain circumstances Ta'zir imprisonment — this is genuinely fact-specific and needs a lawyer's read.
What is the difference between Section 154 and Section 200 CrPC?
Section 154 CrPC is the route through the police — reporting a cognizable offence so an FIR gets registered. Section 200 CrPC is a private complaint filed directly with a Magistrate, useful when you want the court to take cognizance without relying on police registration, though the Magistrate can still direct a police inquiry first.
What is Section 420 PPC used for?
Section 420 PPC covers cheating and dishonestly inducing someone to deliver property, or to alter or destroy a valuable security, as a result of that deception. It's the standard fraud charge in cases involving fake investment schemes, forged documents used to obtain money, or deceptive business dealings. See our dedicated Section 420 guide for the full breakdown.
Can Wakeel.org explain a specific PPC or CrPC section to me?
Yes — Wakeel.org can explain what a specific section says, in plain English or Urdu, and how it generally applies. It cannot tell you how a section applies to your exact facts, predict the outcome of a case, or replace a licensed advocate's judgment — verify anything important with a lawyer before you act.
General educational information, not legal advice. Section text and applicable amendments change over time — verify against the official Pakistan Code and a licensed advocate before acting. See our full disclaimer.
Heard a section number and want to know what it means?
Ask Wakeel about any PPC or CrPC section, in English or Urdu, and get a plain-language explanation grounded in the actual text — then verify with a licensed advocate.