Legal Help · Published November 19, 2026
Police Refuse to Register FIR: What Can You Do?
The law doesn't leave you stuck if a police station won't file your complaint. Here's the exact path around them, step by step.
Quick answer
First, put your complaint in writing and submit it to the SHO, keeping a signed copy. If that doesn't work, escalate — again in writing — to the SP or DPO. If the police still refuse, you can go directly to the district's Ex-Officio Justice of the Peace under Sections 22-A and 22-B of the CrPC, who has the legal authority to order the police to register your FIR. This is a real, working legal remedy — you are not required to simply accept a refusal.
Four steps, in order
Step 1 — Write down what happened, in order
Before going back to the station, note the date and time you tried to report the offence, who you spoke to, and exactly what they said. If the police wrote anything on paper and returned it to you, keep it — even an informal note helps.
Step 2 — Go over the SHO's head, in writing
If the duty officer refuses, submit a written application addressed to the SHO (Station House Officer) himself, and keep a signed, dated copy or receipt. If the SHO also refuses or ignores it, the next step is the Superintendent of Police (SP) or DPO for that district — again in writing.
Step 3 — Apply to the Justice of Peace (Section 22-A/22-B CrPC)
If the police still won't register the case, the law gives you a direct route around them: an application to the district's Ex-Officio Justice of the Peace (usually the Sessions Judge), who has the power to order the police to register your FIR.
Step 4 — Keep every document you generate
Copies of your written applications, any receipts, and the eventual court order (if you go the Justice of Peace route) all matter — not just to get the FIR registered, but as your record if the case is questioned later.
Why writing things down matters more than arguing at the counter
A verbal argument at the police station leaves no trail. A written application does — and Pakistani courts have repeatedly treated the Justice of Peace process, under Sections 22-A and 22-B of the CrPC, as a genuinely adjudicatory process: the judge examines whether your facts support registering the FIR, not whether you were polite enough at the station. A written record of your earlier attempts — dates, names, what was said — makes that application far stronger.
One important thing to know going in: the Justice of Peace decides whether the police should register a case and investigate — not whether the person you're accusing is guilty. That's a separate question decided later, if the case proceeds. This route exists to unblock the process, not to fast-track a conviction.
What Wakeel.org can help with
Explaining these escalation steps clearly and helping you organize your facts and dates before you write anything down.
What it cannot do
It cannot draft or file your Justice of Peace application or represent you in court — a licensed advocate should handle that.
Frequently asked questions
What can I do if the police refuse to register my FIR?
First put your complaint in writing to the SHO. If that doesn't work, escalate in writing to the SP or DPO. If police still refuse, you can apply to the district's Ex-Officio Justice of the Peace under Sections 22-A and 22-B of the CrPC, who has the legal power to direct the police to register the FIR.
Do I need a lawyer to apply to the Justice of Peace?
It's strongly recommended. While the law doesn't require you to have a lawyer, an application to the Justice of Peace needs to lay out the facts clearly enough for the judge to be satisfied that an offence has occurred — a lawyer significantly improves the odds it's accepted.
How long does it take to get an FIR registered through the Justice of Peace?
It varies by court and how contested the matter is, but this route is generally faster than most alternatives specifically because it was designed to force quick police action — courts handling these applications typically move them along without long delays.
Can the police be punished for refusing to register an FIR without a good reason?
Yes — under the Police Order 2002, a case can be registered against an officer for misconduct, including refusing a legitimate complaint, separately from the Justice of Peace process that gets your own FIR registered.
Can Wakeel.org help me if police refuse to register my FIR?
Wakeel.org can explain the escalation steps and what a Justice of Peace application generally involves, in plain English or Urdu. It cannot draft or file the application, or represent you in front of a judge — a licensed advocate should handle that.
General educational information, not legal advice. See our full disclaimer.
Sources — check these directly to verify
Police won't register your FIR?
Ask Wakeel to walk you through the escalation steps — then verify with a licensed advocate before you file.