CrPC amended to allow release of suspects during criminal probes

An ordinance issued by the president now allows courts to discharge suspects if interim investigation reports find insufficient evidence against them

President Md Shahabuddin has issued an ordinance amending the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, introducing a new provision concerning the fate of suspects during criminal investigations.

The law ministry announced the amendment in a gazette issued on Thursday.

With the addition of Section 173A to the law under "The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025", any person accused of a criminal offence may now be discharged by the courts during the course of a probe if there is insufficient evidence against them based on an interim investigation report submitted by police.

As parliament is not in session, the ordinance was issued by the president under the powers granted in Article 93(1) of the Constitution.