Police Complaint (Application to SHO) (Pakistan)

A Police Complaint (Application to SHO) in Pakistan is a formal written document addressed to the Station House Officer of the relevant police station requesting the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898. The Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 — a colonial-era statute that continues in full force across Pakistan, including Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan — is the primary procedural law governing criminal investigation, cognisance, and trial in Pakistani courts.

Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 mandates that every officer in charge of a police station must reduce to writing any information relating to the commission of a cognisable offence and read it over to the informant. A cognisable offence is defined in Schedule II of the Code and includes offences such as theft, robbery, dacoity, hurt, kidnapping, and cheating under the Pakistan Penal Code 1860. Once an FIR is registered, the police are empowered to investigate without a Magistrate's order under Section 156 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan and the High Courts — Lahore High Court, Sindh High Court, Peshawar High Court, Balochistan High Court, and the Islamabad High Court — have consistently held that the registration of an FIR is a statutory right of every citizen. In cases where the SHO refuses to register an FIR, the complainant may approach the Superintendent of Police under Section 154(3) of the Code or file a complaint directly before the Judicial Magistrate under Section 200 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898.

The Police Order 2002 (as applicable in Punjab and Islamabad Capital Territory) and the Police Act 1861 (still operative in KPK and Balochistan) govern the organisation and conduct of the police service. Under Rule 22.1 of the Punjab Police Rules 1934, the Station House Officer is duty-bound to register an FIR upon receipt of information about a cognisable offence. The Pakistan Penal Code 1860 defines the substantive offences — from Section 300 (murder) to Section 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) — for which FIRs are routinely registered.

A written Police Complaint in Pakistan serves several functions: it creates a contemporaneous written record of the alleged crime; it establishes the date and time of knowledge of the offence; it activates the statutory duty of the police to investigate; and it forms the basis for subsequent proceedings before the Court of Sessions or the High Court if the SHO declines to register an FIR. The written complaint can also be used to approach the District Police Officer (DPO) or the Inspector General of Police (IGP) if lower-level officers are unresponsive.

In matters of cybercrime — such as online fraud, hacking, or electronic harassment — the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing exercises concurrent jurisdiction under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (PECA). Complainants in such cases may address their written complaint to the FIA Cyber Crime Wing Regional Office rather than the local SHO, though the written format of the complaint remains substantially similar.

A Police Complaint (Application to SHO) Pakistan drawn in accordance with the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 is admissible as a first-hand account of the incident. Courts — including the Sessions Court, the High Courts, and the Supreme Court of Pakistan — examine the contents of the original written complaint carefully when evaluating the credibility of the complainant's version. Any material contradiction between the written complaint and subsequent testimony can be used in cross-examination under Section 145 of the Qanoon-e-Shahadat Order 1984.

A Police Complaint addressed to the SHO in Pakistan is required whenever a person has information about the commission of a cognisable offence and wishes to have a First Information Report registered under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898.

A written complaint is needed when a person has been the victim of theft, robbery, dacoity, or house-breaking under Sections 378–445 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860, and wishes to formally notify the local police station so that the SHO can initiate investigation under Section 156 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898.

A written complaint is required when a person suffers hurt, grievous hurt, or assault under Sections 332–340 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860, particularly in cases of domestic violence governed by the Protection of Women against Violence Act 2016 (Punjab) or equivalent provincial legislation in Sindh, KPK, and Balochistan.

A written complaint is needed when a person has been defrauded, cheated, or subjected to criminal breach of trust under Sections 406–420 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860, including online financial fraud falling under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016.

A written complaint is required when a person receives threats, extortion demands, or is a victim of harassment under Section 503 or Section 384 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860, including cyberstalking and electronic harassment under Section 24 of PECA 2016.

A written complaint is needed following a road traffic accident involving death or serious injury — where the offence of causing death by rash or negligent driving falls under Section 319 or Section 320 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 — so that the SHO can register an FIR and refer the case to the Traffic Police for investigation.

A written complaint is required when a kidnapping, abduction, or forced marriage offence under Sections 359–374 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 has occurred, including matters falling under the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act 2013 or the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act 2015.

Parties in Pakistan should prepare the written Police Complaint promptly — courts examine whether the complaint was made without undue delay, as delay in lodging an FIR may raise questions about the complainant's credibility during trial proceedings before the Sessions Court.

A well-drafted Police Complaint (Application to SHO) in Pakistan under the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 must contain the following essential elements to confirm prompt FIR registration and subsequent investigation.

Addressal Block: The complaint must be addressed formally to the Station House Officer (SHO) of the specific police station — for example, 'SHO, Police Station Saddar, Lahore' — along with the date of submission. Under the Police Order 2002 (applicable in Punjab and ICT), the SHO is the officer responsible for maintaining law and order within the station jurisdiction.

Complainant's Particulars: Full legal name, parentage (son/daughter of), Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) number issued by NADRA, permanent and current address, and contact number of the complainant. CNIC verification is standard practice in Pakistani police stations for identity confirmation.

Accused Particulars: Name, address, CNIC (if known), and relationship to the complainant of each accused person. Where the accused is unknown, a description of physical appearance and any vehicle registration number should be provided.

Time, Date, and Place of Incident: Precise specification of when and where the offence occurred, as the jurisdiction of the police station is determined by the location of the offence under Section 177 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898.

Narration of Facts: A chronological, factual account of the incident — without legal conclusions — describing what happened, who was present, and what evidence or injuries exist. The narration must be consistent with the contents of any subsequent statement under Section 161 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898.

Relief Sought: An express request for registration of a First Information Report (FIR) under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898, investigation of the matter, and arrest of the accused where applicable under Section 54.

Witness Details: Names, addresses, and CNICs of any available witnesses to the incident, as witnesses will be examined by the Investigating Officer (IO) under Section 161 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898.

Signature and Date: The complainant's signature or thumb impression (in cases of illiteracy), with the date of submission. A thumb impression must be attested by a gazetted officer or an Advocate enrolled at the relevant Bar Council.

Supporting Documents: Attach medical certificate (MLC — Medico-Legal Certificate) where injury has occurred; CNIC copies; photographs of damage or injury; screenshots of electronic communications where cybercrime is alleged under PECA 2016.

Forms-legal.com provides this Police Complaint (Application to SHO) Pakistan template as a starting point for drafting a complaint compliant with the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898. For serious or complex criminal matters, complainants should consult an Advocate enrolled at the Punjab Bar Council, Sindh Bar Council, KPK Bar Council, or the relevant provincial bar council.

Additional compliance elements for a Police Complaint (Application to SHO) (Pakistan) used in Pakistan include: Under Pakistani law, the Constitution of Pakistan 1973 is the supreme law. The Contract Act 1872 governs contractual obligations. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) administers tax under the Income Tax Ordinance 2001. The High Courts have original and appellate jurisdiction. The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) handles identity documentation. The Federal Shariat Court reviews laws for Islamic compliance. Forms-legal.com provides this template as a starting point for Pakistan-compliant documentation.