In Pakistan, the law isn’t just for criminals or courtrooms. It’s also for you — the student, shopkeeper, freelancer, housewife, or rickshaw driver who faces injustice almost daily and often stays silent. Whether it’s a traffic warden stopping you without a valid reason or your boss delaying your salary, these aren’t just “routine problems” — they are legal violations.
Unfortunately, most people don’t even know that the law is on their side. In fact, knowing your basic legal rights can turn fear into power. Let's explore how.
1. Everyday Harassment is More Common Than You Think
Harassment isn’t just about being followed or threatened. In Pakistan, it takes many forms:
- Mobile shop charging extra for a SIM card or mobile load
- Landlord increasing rent illegally or not returning the advance
- Officers demanding bribes for routine work
- Companies deducting salary without notice
- Fake “FBR calls” threatening action unless you pay
Most of these actions are either illegal or can be challenged legally. But only if you know how.
2. The Power of Knowing Your Rights
When you understand what the law says, it becomes much harder for people to exploit you. For example:
- Under the Consumer Protection Act, you can file a complaint if someone sells you expired or overpriced goods.
- The Tenancy Laws protect you from illegal eviction and rent hikes.
- Cybercrime laws let you report online harassment and fake calls via FIA's complaint portal.
- Labour laws give you the right to timely wages, job safety, and legal contracts.
3. Meet Sharafat Bhai — The Common Man Turned Legal Warrior
Let’s take the story of Sharafat Bhai — a simple man who used to avoid confrontation. One day, a shopkeeper overcharged him for mobile load. But instead of staying quiet, he took a photo of the receipt and filed a complaint on the Sindh Consumer Protection Council’s Facebook page. The shopkeeper got fined, and Sharafat Bhai became the hero of his area!
In another case, his electricity bill showed a unit count double of his average usage. He wrote to the MEPCO office quoting NEPRA regulations and got it corrected — no bribes, no middlemen, just pure awareness.
He didn’t have a lawyer. Just Google and some courage.
4. Institutions That Can Help You
Here are some platforms that work in your favor:
- FIA Cybercrime Portal: complaint.fia.gov.pk
- Consumer Courts: Available in almost every major city
- Wafaqi Mohtasib (Ombudsman): For complaints against government bodies
- Tax Ombudsman: For issues with FBR or tax harassment
Filing a complaint is often free and can be done online.
5. Common Myths That Stop People
- Myth: “Law is only for the rich.”
Truth: Most legal platforms are free or cost very little. - Myth: “Nothing will happen even if I complain.”
Truth: With documentation, you can go very far. - Myth: “Mujhe kanoon samajh nahi aata.”
Truth: You don’t need to understand everything — just enough to take the first step.
6. How to Start Learning the Law (Without Becoming a Lawyer)
You can begin with topics that affect you daily:
- How to file a traffic challan dispute
- What to do if a company delays your payment
- How to protect yourself from online scams
- Land and property ownership basics
There are videos, blogs, and Facebook pages dedicated to legal awareness in Urdu and English. One such blog is:
👉 Visit: QanoonKeQisse.blogspot.com
Here, you'll find funny but useful legal stories featuring our beloved Sharafat Bhai — explaining tax returns, cyber laws, overbilling, and your rights as a tenant or customer.
7. Final Thought: Law is Not Just for Lawyers
Knowing your legal rights doesn’t mean quoting full acts or memorizing sections. It means having the courage to ask:
“Yeh kaunsa qanoon kehta hai?”
It means asking for a receipt, reading your bill, asking for a written notice instead of just verbal threats. That’s all it takes to start protecting yourself.
Remember, harassment continues where awareness ends. Don’t wait for someone else to fight your battle. Start by reading, questioning, and spreading legal awareness. You don’t have to become a lawyer — just a little informed.
💡 For more such legal stories and guides, visit: qanoonkeqisse.blogspot.com