CHAPTER XV
OF OFFENCES RELATING TO RELIGION
295. Injuring or defiling place of worship, with Intent to insult the religion of any
class: Whoever destroys, damages or defiles any place of worship, or any object held
sacred by any class of persons with the intention of thereby insulting the religion of any
class of persons or with the knowledge that any class of persons is likely to consider such
destruction damage or defilement as an insult to their religion. shall be punished with
imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine,
or with both.
295-A. Deliberate and malicious acts Intended to outrage religious feelings of any
class by insulting Its religion or religious beliefs: Whoever, with deliberate and
malicious intention of outraging the 'religious feelings of any class of the citizens of
Pakistan, by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representations insults the

religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment of either
description for a term which may extend to ten years, or with fine, or with both.
Sec. 295-A ins. by the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, XXV of 1927.

295-B. Defiling, etc., of Holy Qur'an : Whoever wilfully defiles, damages or desecrates a
copy of the Holy Qur'an or of an extract therefrom or uses it in any derogatory manner or
for any unlawful purpose shall be punishable with imprisonment for life.
Sec. 295-B added by P.P.C. (Amendment) Ordinance, I of 1982.
295-C. Use of derogatory remarks, etc., in respect of the Holy Prophet: Whoever by
words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation or by any imputation,
innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life,
and shall also be liable to fine.
Sec. 295-C ins. by the Criminal Law (amendment) Act, 111 of 1986, S. 2
296. Disturbing religious assembly : Whoever voluntarily causes disturbance to any
assembly lawfully engaged in the performance of religious worship, or religious
ceremonies, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which
may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.
297. Trespassing on burial places, etc.: Whoever, with the intention of wounding the
feelings of any person, or of insulting the religion of any person, or with the knowledge that
the feelings of any person are likely to be wounded, or that the religion of any person is
likely to be insulted thereby,
commits any trespass in any place of worship or on any place of sculpture, or any place
set apart for the performance
of funeral rites or as a, depository for the remains of the dead, or offers any indignity to
any human corpse or causes disturbance to any persons assembled for the performance
of funeral ceremonies,
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to
one year, or with fine, or with both.
298. Uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings:
Whoever, with the deliberate intention of wounding the religious feelings of any person,
utters any word or makes any sound in the hearing of that person or makes any gesture in
the sight of that person or places any object in the sight of that person, shall be punished
with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year or with
fine, or with both.
298-A. Use of derogatory remarks, etc., in respect of holy personages: Whoever by
words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation, or by any imputation,
innuendo or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of any wife (Ummul

Mumineen), or members of the family (Ahle-bait), of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon
him), or any of the righteous Caliphs (Khulafa-e-Rashideen) or companions (Sahaaba) of
the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) shall be punished with imprisonment of either
description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
Sec. 298-A added by the Pakistan Penal Code (Second Amendment) Ordinance, XLIV of 1980.
298-B. Misuse of epithets, descriptions and titles, etc., reserved for certain holy
personages or places: (1) Any person of the Quadiani group or the Lahori group (who
call themselves 'Ahmadis' or by any other name who by words, either spoken or written, or
by visible representation-
(a) refers to or addresses, any person, other than a Caliph or companion of the Holy
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), as "Ameer-ul-Mumineen", "Khalifatul-
Mumineen", Khalifa-tul-Muslimeen", "Sahaabi" or "Razi Allah Anho";
(b) refers to, or addresses, any person, other than a wife of the Holy Prophet Muhammad
(peace bi upon him), as "Ummul-Mumineen";
(c) refers to, or addresses, any person, other than a member of the family "Ahle-bait" of
the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), as "Ahle-baft"; or
(d) refers to, or names, or calls, his place of worship a "Masjid";
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to
three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
(2) Any person of the Qaudiani group or Lahori group (who call themselves "Ahmadis" or
by any other name) who by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation
refers to the mode or form of call to prayers followed by his faith as "Azan", or recites Azan
as used by the Muslims, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a
term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Sec. 298-B ins. by Anti-lslamic Activities of Quadiani Group, Lahori Group and Ahmadis (Prohibition and Punishment)
Ordinance, XX of 1984
298-C. Person of Quadiani group, etc., calling himself a Muslim or preaching or
propagating his faith : Any person of the Quadiani group or the Lahori group (who call
themselves 'Ahmadis' or by any other name), who directly or indirectly, poses himself as a
Muslim, or calls, or refers to, his faith as Islam, or preaches or propagates his faith, or
invites others to accept his faith, by words, either spoken or written, or by visible
representations, or in any manner whatsoever outrages the religious feelings of Muslims
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to
three years and shall also be liable to fine.
Sec. 298-C. ins. by the Anti-Islamic Activities of Quadiani Group, Lahori Group and Ahmadis (Prohibition and
Punishment) Ordinance, XX of 1984.