19/04/2026
🔷Jameel Ahmad Vs. The State and others
🔷PLD 2026 Lahore 343
Law distinguishes between sin, crime, and offence. A “sin” is a moral or religious transgression, an act considered wrong according to divine command or ethical principles, judged by one’s faith or conscience. Its consequences are spiritual or moral, such as guilt or divine punishment. In contrast, under the statutory framework of Pakistan, a “crime” is an act or omission that is made punishable by law. It is a public wrong that affects society at large, and the offender may be punished by death, imprisonment, fine or other legal penalties. Courts established under the Constitution adjudicate only statutory offences and do not concern themselves with moral or religious conduct. The term “offence” is a technical expression that refers to any act (or omission) that violates the law. It encompasses both regulatory violations, such as traffic infractions, and serious penal acts like murder. “Offence” is a broader concept than “crime”, the latter being generally reserved for serious offences involving public wrongs. Thus, every crime is an offence, but not every offence amounts to a crime in this sense. Under Shariah, however, a crime is an act prohibited by divine injunction and punishable with Hadd or Ta’zir penalties.
