In a significant move to tackle the rising number of fatal road accidents, the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Interior has approved a crucial amendment to the Pakistan Penal Code. This change, which is a direct response to growing public concern, makes causing a death through reckless driving a ‘non-bailable offence’.
The amendment targets Section 320 of the Pakistan Penal Code. Previously, a woman driver involved in a fatal accident due to reckless driving could secure bail. This often-left grieving families feeling that justice was not served, as many culprits would be released from custody shortly after the incident.
The Push for Accountability
The Criminal Law Amendment Bill 2024, introduced by PPP MNA Sharmila Faruqui, was the driving force behind this change. Faruqui highlighted the urgent need for legal reform, pointing out that the current law, which allows for bail, fails to hold drivers accountable. She cited a sobering statistic: 128 people died in road accidents in Islamabad last year alone. The amendment seeks to ensure that when a life is lost due to negligent or dangerous driving, the driver cannot simply walk free on bail.
This initiative found strong support from the Law Ministry and was unanimously approved by the committee members present.
Balancing Justice & Compassion
The debate surrounding the amendment was not without its complexities. PML-N’s Abdul Qadir Patel acknowledged the emotional weight of these cases, but he also urged for compassion, reminding the committee that “accidents are not committed by the rich or poor alone. Even God forgives mistakes.”
However, Faruqui countered this perspective, arguing that if forgiveness were the sole standard, then the entire concept of punishment for culpable homicide would be obsolete.
The new amendment aims to strike a better balance, ensuring that while an accident may not be intentional, the consequences of reckless behavior that leads to a death are severe.
While Section 320 already prescribes up to 10 years in prison for reckless driving deaths, the new provision removes the option for bail, ensuring that the legal process moves forward with greater accountability. This marks a new chapter in Pakistan’s efforts to make its roads safer and to deliver justice for victims of traffic accidents.
