جرمِ قذف: پاکستانی قانون اور بدائع الصنائع میں ایک فقہی و تقابلی مطالعہ

The Offence of Qazf: A Jurisprudential and Comparative Study of Pakistani Law and Bada'i al-Sana'i

Abstract

This research paper presents a critical comparative analysis of the Offence of Qazf (Enforcement of Hadd) Ordinance, 1979 in Pakistan, evaluating its legal provisions against the classical Hanafi jurisprudential framework established in Bada'i al-Sana'i by Imam Al-Kasani. The study examines the definition, constitutive elements, evidentiary standards, and the implementation of Hadd (prescribed punishment) for the accusation of Zina (adultery). It explores the alignment between modern legislative language and classical jurisprudence, while identifying key discrepancies that have emerged due to the intersection of Islamic penal concepts and secular legal influences. The research highlights significant findings regarding the conceptualization of Qazf, particularly the ongoing discourse between viewing the offence as a Haqq-Allah (Right of Allah) versus a Haqq-al-Abd (Right of the Individual). Furthermore, it investigates the practical application of the law through judicial precedents, arguing that while the Pakistani legal framework maintains a strong foundation in Hanafi jurisprudence, the incorporation of certain statutory exceptions—such as 'good faith' provisions—necessitates a deeper reliance on classical jurisprudential reasoning to ensure the law’s conformity with the spirit of Islamic justice.