How to File an FIR in Pakistan (Section 154 CrPC)

An FIR, short for First Information Report, is the written record the police make when they first receive information about a cognizable offence. It is registered under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, and it sets the criminal process in motion. Registering an FIR is free, and the law entitles the informant to a copy at no cost.

This article explains information about the process. It is not legal advice.

What an FIR is

An FIR records the first information about an offence that the police can investigate without a court order. It typically includes the date, time, and place of the incident, a description of what happened, and the names of those involved if known. Once recorded, it is read over to the informant, who signs it, and the police enter it in the station records.

Cognizable and non-cognizable offences

Whether the police can register an FIR and investigate on their own depends on the type of offence:

Step by step: registering an FIR

1. Go to the police station that has jurisdiction over the place where the offence happened.
2. Give the information about the offence, orally or in writing, to the officer in charge.
3. The officer records the information; if given orally, it is written down and read back to you.
4. Check the recorded contents and sign the FIR.
5. Obtain your free copy of the FIR, which is your right under Section 154.

What to include

• Date, time, and exact place of the incident.
• A clear account of what happened, in sequence.
• Names and descriptions of those involved, if known.
• Details of any injury, loss, or property involved.

Stick to facts you know. The FIR is an early record, not the final version of the case.

If the police refuse to register an FIR

Registration is not always straightforward, and the law provides remedies:

• Approach the Ex-Officio Justice of Peace, who is the Sessions Judge, under Sections 22-A and 22-B CrPC, seeking a direction to register the FIR.
• File a private complaint before a Magistrate under Section 200 CrPC, where the Magistrate can take cognizance directly.

An advocate who practises criminal law can prepare these applications; see how to find a good lawyer in Pakistan, search by area with the Mera Wakil lawyer finder, and confirm their credentials using how to verify a lawyer's Bar Council enrolment.

Your rights around an FIR

• You are entitled to a free copy of the FIR once it is registered.
• The FIR should record what you actually report, and you sign it after checking the contents.
• For a non-cognizable matter, the police record the information but generally need a Magistrate's order to investigate.
• If registration is wrongly refused, the remedies under Sections 22-A and 200 CrPC are available to you.

Knowing these points helps you insist on correct procedure and avoid relying on informal shortcuts that carry no legal weight.

What happens after the FIR

Once an FIR is registered, the police investigate and may submit a report, commonly called the challan, to the court. Depending on the offence, questions of arrest and bail arise, which are dealt with under the bail provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, Sections 496 to 498. The accused can seek bail, and the complainant can follow the progress of the case. For the costs of representation, see lawyer fees in Pakistan.