Pakistan's Criminal Law in between the Interaction of Islamic Jurisprudence and English Law

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Professor, Department of Criminal Law and Criminology, Faculty of Law, University of Qom, Iran, Qom

10.22091/dclic.2026.17657.1212

Abstract

Pakistan’s common law system draws upon two sources in the realm of criminal law: Islamic jurisprudence and English law. Its English lineage is to be viewed as a legacy of the Indian law and specifically the Penal Code 1860, while the manifestation of Islamic jurisprudence is to be found in legislative developments following the country's independence. Using a descriptive-analytical approach, this study has sought to examine the mutual influences between Islamic jurisprudence and English law within the context of the country's contemporary criminal law. The findings indicate that English law has primarily persisted in the realms of general legal rules and Ta'zirat, but Islamic jurisprudence has exerted influence in the areas of Hudud, Qisas and Diyat. Within this framework, the Hanafi school has played a pivotal role in the legislative process. The movement to Islamize criminal law initially manifested through the enactment of specific regulations regarding Hudud, and subsequently, the rulings on Qisas and Diyat - covering crimes against physical integrity - were incorporated into the country's statutory law through some amendments to the English-style penal code. The aforementioned hybrid model served as a legislative template for certain countries whose penal systems were also based on the Indian Code - an example of which can be seen in Nigeria's Sharia-based criminal provisions.

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Volume 3, Issue 3 - Serial Number 11
Autumn 2026
September 2026
Pages 136-154

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