Filing a Complaint Against the Police in Pakistan (2026 Legal Guide) — Rules & Requirements
About this article
Reviewed by the Commoner Law editorial team. Sources: pakistancode.gov.pk, Punjab/Sindh/KP/Balochistan provincial codes, Supreme Court of Pakistan, FBR, EOBI, SBP, NEPRA, OGRA, PMDC, FIA, and provincial Healthcare Commissions. Provincial variations cite Punjab/Sindh/KP/Balochistan Acts and ICT-specific ordinances. Written in plain English with everyday Urdu legal terms (FIR, qabza, khula, NTN, CNIC) for a general audience — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
Pakistan has four overlapping channels for a complaint against the police. Pick the one that matches the harm.
- Public Safety Commissions. The Police Order 2002 established District Public Safety and Police Complaints Commissions; KP rewrote its framework as the KP Police Act 2017 with its own Public Safety Commission and Police Complaints Authority. The Public Safety Commission can require remedial action and refer to the head of the police force where remedial action is not taken. Free.
- Federal / Provincial Ombudsman. The Wafaqi Mohtasib (Federal Ombudsman) under P.O. No. 1 of 1983 handles complaints of maladministration by federal agencies including federal police and the FIA. Provincial Mohtasibs handle provincial agencies. Free, written complaint, decisions within 60 days as a rule.
- Justice of Peace (Sessions Judge) under CrPC § 22-A. Where the SHO refuses to register an FIR against a police officer, a section 22-A petition to the Justice of Peace can compel registration. The procedure is fast — usually 1–3 hearings.
- High Court — Article 199 constitutional petition. For habeas, systemic abuse, denial of fundamental rights, or where statutory routes are inadequate. The High Court can issue writs against any public functionary including the police.
For death in custody, torture, or serious injury the Mohtasib and Public Safety Commission routes are too slow; go to the High Court under Article 199 simultaneously with a section 22-A FIR application against the named officers. The existing 'Torture and Custodial Deaths' page covers this end of the spectrum.
When does it apply?
- An officer refused to register your FIR, demanded a bribe, or registered a watered-down version of the offence.
- You were ill-treated, harassed, or unlawfully detained by police.
- A police officer disclosed your case file or personal information to a third party.
- Police failed to act on a lawful complaint over a sustained period.
- An officer obstructed access to your lawyer or family during custody.
What to Do When You Need to Complain Against the Police
- Build the file first. Daily Diary entry, copies of any FIRs, written application to the SHO, dates and times of interactions, names and badge numbers of officers, any medical reports.
- For FIR refusal, file a section 22-A petition before the Justice of Peace. Attach the Daily Diary entry and your written complaint to the SHO. Usually decided in 1–3 hearings.
- For maladministration / harassment / corruption, file with the Wafaqi Mohtasib (federal officers) or the relevant Provincial Mohtasib (provincial officers). Free, written complaint, time-bound decision under FOIRA 2013.
- For systemic complaints under the Police Order 2002 / KP Police Act 2017, file with the District Public Safety Commission. The Commission can require remedial action and refer to the head of the force.
- For habeas, torture, or constitutional violations, file an Article 199 writ petition before the High Court. Most High Courts accept emergency filings same day; notice goes to the SHO and District Police Officer.
- Document everything in writing. Verbal complaints rarely move the file. Each channel has its own complaint form — fill it carefully, attach the evidence index.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't accept 'we'll handle it internally' as the only response. Without a written record at the Public Safety Commission, Mohtasib, or Court, internal handling is largely invisible.
- Don't sign withdrawal statements under pressure. Police sometimes ask complainants to sign withdrawal during pendency; once signed it complicates the case enormously.
- Don't go to the local police station alone to confront an officer you have complained against. Take a wakeel or a witness.
- Don't rely on social media in place of the formal complaint. Public posts can attract PECA §20 (dignity) or §26-A (false / fake information) counter-actions. Use the formal channel first and let the file speak.
About Police Encounters in Pakistan
Most of your protection in a police encounter comes from three places: Articles 9, 10, and 10A of the Constitution (life, liberty, fair trial); the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 (CrPC) sections 54 (arrest without warrant), 154 (FIR), 167 (remand), and 497 (bail); and the Pakistan Penal Code. After the 18th Amendment policing was devolved. KP rewrote its policing law as the KP Police Act 2017, while Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan still apply some hybrid of the Police Order 2002 and the older Police Act 1861.
The two most useful tools you actually have, day to day: section 22-A CrPC (Justice of Peace, when an SHO refuses to register your FIR) and habeas corpus under Article 199 of the Constitution (when someone is missing in police custody). Both are slow. Both work.
Frequently asked questions
Which complaint channel is fastest?
For FIR refusal, the Justice of Peace under CrPC § 22-A is the fastest — usually 1–3 hearings within a month. For habeas (someone in custody beyond 24 hours, or missing), an Article 199 petition before the High Court is the fastest — most High Courts accept emergency filings same day. The Wafaqi Mohtasib and Public Safety Commissions are slower (typically 60+ days) but they are the better channel for non-urgent maladministration.
What does the Public Safety Commission actually do?
Under the Police Order 2002 and the KP Police Act 2017, the District Public Safety and Police Complaints Commission receives complaints, requires the appropriate authority to take remedial action within a specified period, and if the police department does not take action, refers the matter to the head of the force or to the Federal Police Complaints Authority. Some sections of the original Police Order 2002 complaints framework (Articles 103 to 108) were omitted by amendment, so KP's 2017 Act is the cleaner modern equivalent.
Is the Federal Ombudsman free?
Yes. The Wafaqi Mohtasib operates under P.O. No. 1 of 1983 and the Federal Ombudsmen Institutional Reforms Act 2013 (FOIRA). The Mohtasib's services are free; complaints are decided in writing, generally within 60 days, and recommendations are addressed to the relevant department head. An order can be implemented, and an aggrieved party may file a representation to the President under FOIRA.
Can I sue the police for damages?
Yes, in principle. Civil suits for compensation against the State and individual officers are available under the Civil Procedure Code 1908, and Article 199 constitutional petitions can produce compensation orders in egregious cases. The bar is high in practice and the timeline is long — usually a parallel remedy alongside the criminal and Mohtasib routes.
What is the filing a complaint against the police — public safety commissions, ombudsman, and courts right in Pakistan?
Pakistan has four overlapping channels for a complaint against the police. Pick the one that matches the harm.Public Safety Commissions. The Police Order 2002 established District Public Safety and Police Complaints Commissions; KP rewrote its framework as the KP Police Act 2017 with its own Public Safety Commission and Police Complaints Authority. The Public Safety Commission can require remedial action and refer to the head of the police force where remedial action is not taken. Free.Federal / Provincial Ombudsman. The Wafaqi Mohtasib (Federal Ombudsman) under P.O. No. 1 of 1983 handles...
When does filing a complaint against the police — public safety commissions, ombudsman, and courts apply?
An officer refused to register your FIR, demanded a bribe, or registered a watered-down version of the offence.You were ill-treated, harassed, or unlawfully detained by police.A police officer disclosed your case file or personal information to a third party.Police failed to act on a lawful complaint over a sustained period.An officer obstructed access to your lawyer or family during custody.
How do I file a complaint against a police officer in Pakistan?
Build the file first. Daily Diary entry, copies of any FIRs, written application to the SHO, dates and times of interactions, names and badge numbers of officers, any medical reports.For FIR refusal, file a section 22-A petition before the Justice of Peace. Attach the Daily Diary entry and your written complaint to the SHO. Usually decided in 1–3 hearings.For maladministration / harassment / corruption, file with the Wafaqi Mohtasib (federal officers) or the relevant Provincial Mohtasib (provincial officers). Free, written complaint, time-bound decision under FOIRA 2013.For systemic...
What mistakes should I avoid with filing a complaint against the police — public safety commissions, ombudsman, and courts?
Don't accept 'we'll handle it internally' as the only response. Without a written record at the Public Safety Commission, Mohtasib, or Court, internal handling is largely invisible.Don't sign withdrawal statements under pressure. Police sometimes ask complainants to sign withdrawal during pendency; once signed it complicates the case enormously.Don't go to the local police station alone to confront an officer you have complained against. Take a wakeel or a witness.Don't rely on social media in place of the formal complaint. Public posts can attract PECA §20 (dignity) or §26-A (false / fake...