PPC § 351 — Assault

Statutory text (English)

Whoever makes any gesture, or any preparation intending or knowing it to be
likely that such gesture or preparation will cause any person present to apprehend that he who makes
that gesture or preparation is about to use criminal force to that person, is said to commit an assault.

Explanation.— Mere words do not amount to an assault. But the words which a person uses may
give to his gestures or preparation such a meaning as may make those gestures or preparations amount to
an assault.
Illustrations
(a) A shakes his fist at Z, intending or knowing it to be likely that he may thereby cause
Z to believe that A is about to strike Z. A has committed an assault.
(b) A begins to unloose the muzzle of a ferocious dog, intending, or knowing it to be
likely that he may thereby cause Z to believe that he is about to cause the dog to
attack Z. A has committed an assault upon Z.
(c) A takes up a stick, saying to Z, “I will give you a beating”. Here, though the words
used by A could in no case amount to an assault, and though the mere gesture,
unaccompanied by any other circumstances, might not amount to an assault, the
gesture explained by the words may amount to an assault.

Source and verification

Source citation: PPC (Act XLV of 1860) s.351: Pakistan Code portal consolidated official PDF 'THE PAKISTAN PENAL CODE' (Act No. XLV of 1860), p. 127, 128, ingested 2026-09-15. Automated transcription from official source (pypdf extraction, audited artifact repair); human admin re-check required before production.

Verification status: verified · Text status: auto_transcribed_verified_source

The record cites an official source, but its transcription is automated or only partly checked; a human re-check is pending.

Official Urdu text status: pending_official_urdu_text. Where official Urdu wording has not been sourced, Qanoon does not substitute an unverified translation for the statutory text.

Historical text notes

1 historical record is linked to this section. Historical wording may be incomplete or pending verification; it is not presented as current law.

• Date not confirmed: Consolidated current text as published in the official Pakistan Code PDF (p. 127, 128) — reflects all amendments recorded in the official footnotes up to ingest date 2026-09-15. Automated transcription; per-amendment…

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