A landmark ruling by Pakistan's Federal Shariat Court in May 2025 has restored criminal penalties for attempted suicide, triggering sharp criticism from the country's psychiatric community, legal experts, and rights advocates who argue the decision runs counter to global mental health standards. The judgement effectively reverses a landmark decriminalisation effort and raises urgent questions about how Pakistan's legal institutions treat psychological distress.

What the Court Decided

The Federal Shariat Court struck down amendments introduced through the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2022, which had removed attempted suicide from the Pakistan Penal Code. The court held that the repeal was inconsistent with Islamic principles and directed the restoration of Section 325. Under the reinstated provision, a person who survives a suicide attempt may once again face criminal prosecution.

Psychiatric Community Pushes Back

The Pakistan Psychiatric Society has filed an appeal before the Shariat Appellate Bench of the Supreme Court, contending that criminalising suicide attempts actively discourages vulnerable individuals from seeking medical help and undermines evidence-based psychiatric care. Mental health professionals argue that suicide attempts are overwhelmingly linked to clinical conditions — including depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, substance dependence, and psychological trauma — rather than to any criminal intent. They warn that the fear of prosecution could discourage families from reporting incidents and delay critical medical intervention.

Pakistan's Deepening Mental Health Crisis

The ruling arrives at a particularly fraught moment. According to reports, Pakistan is grappling with a growing mental health crisis driven by depression, anxiety, and compounding socioeconomic pressures affecting millions. While public awareness of mental illness has reportedly improved in recent years, access to treatment remains severely limited, stigma remains deeply entrenched, and healthcare infrastructure continues to struggle to meet demand. Critics argue the court's decision widens an already significant gap between legal frameworks and contemporary psychiatric understanding.

Global Context and Contradictions

Across the world, the dominant trend in mental health policy has moved decisively toward decriminalisation and care-first approaches. The World Health Organization and major psychiatric bodies have long advocated treating suicide attempts as a medical emergency rather than a criminal act. Pakistan's reversal, critics contend, places it at odds with this global consensus and risks deterring the very help-seeking behaviour that saves lives. Notably, the 2022 amendment that the court has now nullified was itself a step toward aligning Pakistan's legal code with international norms.

What Happens Next

The appeal filed by the Pakistan Psychiatric Society before the Supreme Court's Shariat Appellate Bench is now the principal legal avenue for reversing the ruling. Rights advocates and mental health professionals are watching the case closely, arguing that the outcome will have lasting consequences for how Pakistan's justice system engages with psychological illness. How the appellate bench rules could either entrench the criminalisation or open a path toward a more humane legal framework.