Horizon International Legal Experts LLC filed a public interest writ petition challenging the continued prosecution and incarceration of individuals under Section 325 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), which criminalized attempted suicide. Although the federal government repealed this section through the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act of 2022, our research, supported by prison data obtained in October 2024, revealed that several individuals remained imprisoned or under trial for suicide attempts under the now-abolished law.
Our legal team submitted that the failure to implement the repeal not only violated the Constitution, including Articles 9 and 14, but also reflected a broader failure to transition from criminalization to a public health-based approach to suicide prevention. We stressed that people who attempt suicide are survivors of extreme distress and must be met with empathy, medical treatment, and counseling—not punishment or stigma. We relied on both international norms and evolving jurisprudence that recognize mental health as a key component of the right to life and dignity.
The Lahore High Court took serious notice of our submissions and issued notices to the Federation of Pakistan, the Inspector General of Police, the Inspector General of Prisons, and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. The Court directed all respondents to submit records of ongoing cases, review all prosecutions under the repealed section, and take immediate steps for the release of those affected.
Additionally, the Court was urged to order the establishment of state-run mental health rehabilitation centers in lieu of criminal prosecution. This case set a new precedent by pushing the legal system toward compassion and care in cases of mental illness and suicide attempts. Our firm continues to monitor compliance and is actively advocating for long-term reform that aligns Pakistan’s laws with modern principles of mental health and human dignity.
