ISLAMABAD: The Federal Shariat Court on Wednesday issued a written order, admitting a petition that challenged the removal of Section 325 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, which deals with penalizing suicide or attempted suicide.
Federal Shariat Court Justices Khadim Hussain Sheikh and Justice Syed Muhammad Anwar heard the plea. The plea was filed by lawyer Hammad Saeed Dar.
The petition argued that suicide is considered forbidden in Islam and that prior to the amendment, it was a crime under the Pakistan Penal Code.
The plea cited Quranic verses and numerous Hadiths to support the argument that life is not merely a gift but also a trust from Allah. The petitioner argued that the abolition of Section 325 was against the injunctions of Islam as laid down in the holy Quran and teachings of the holy Prophet (PBUH). The petition had sought the court’s intervention on these grounds.
The Federation of Pakistan through the president, the Government of Pakistan through the prime minister, and the law ministry through its secretary were named as respondents in the plea.
The court issued a written order on the plea today, stating that the preliminary hearing on the petition was held on Tuesday.
“We find that the petition needs to be heard and the same is admitted to regular hearing. Let notice be issued to the respondents,” the order said.
