# Someone threatening you? Save the proof. > Yes. Threatening injury to a person, reputation or property to cause alarm is criminal intimidation (PPC s.503): up to 2 years, or up to 7 years for a threat to kill, cause grievous hurt or burn property (s.506), and up to 2 more years if anonymous (s.507). Keep proof: cases fail without it. - Topic: Criminal law - For: Citizens - A 11-slide carousel: https://failegal.site/media/someone-threatening-you-save-the-proof-threats - Published by FAI Legal on 2026-10-12 ## Myth or fact? What people often think. - **Myth: Threats are just words. The law only acts after he does something.** - **Fact: Threatening injury to your person, reputation or property to alarm you is criminal intimidation (PPC s.503).** ## The rule in the law. Section 503, Pakistan Penal Code. > "Whoever threatens another with any injury to his person, reputation or property, or to the person or reputation of any one in whom that person is interested, with intent to cause alarm to that person, or to cause that person to do any act which he is not legally bound to do, or to omit to do any act which that person is legally entitled to do … commits criminal intimidation." (Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 · Section 503) ## How serious? Sections 506 and 507. - **Any threat** Up to 2 years, or fine, or both. - **Kill or maim** Threat of death, grievous hurt, burning property or imputing unchastity to a woman: up to 7 years. - **Anonymous** Name or address hidden: up to 2 more years on top. ## Quick quiz. Drop the case. Guess first, then swipe for the answer. - **A. Only a civil dispute** - **B. Criminal intimidation** - **C. Nothing until he acts** ## Answer: B. The law's own example. Illustration to s.503. - **The illustration** A threatens to burn B's house to make B drop a civil suit. A is guilty of criminal intimidation. - **Higher bracket** A threat to destroy property by fire falls in the 7-year part of s.506. ## Why proof decides it. Two Sindh High Court judgments. - **2018 YLRN 214** No call data record of the threatening calls was collected. The accused was acquitted. - **2023 PCrLJ 1787** No date, time, place or witness for the threats. The complaint failed. ## Save the proof. Start today. - **Messages and calls** Screenshots, call logs, voice notes. - **When and where** Write down the date, time, place and exact words. - **Witnesses** Who heard it? Note their names. ## If he acts. Two more rules. - **2023 SCMR 734** Once a threat turns into an act, the act is the offence, not s.506 (Supreme Court). - **s.504 PPC** Insulting someone to provoke a breach of the peace: up to 2 years. ## Being threatened? Ask FAI in your own words. It answers with the exact section and the judgments behind it. - **Someone keeps sending threatening messages to my phone. What can I do?** - **Draft a complaint to the police about threats to kill.** ## What this does not mean - The higher bracket of up to 7 years under s.506 is only for threats to kill, cause grievous hurt, burn property or impute unchastity to a woman. Other threats carry up to 2 years, or fine, or both. - Once a threat turns into an act, the act is the offence, not s.506 (2023 SCMR 734). - A complaint is not enough on its own. Cases have failed where no call data record was collected, or no date, time, place or witness was given. ## Questions people ask ### Is threatening someone a crime in Pakistan? Yes. Threatening injury to a person, reputation or property to cause alarm is criminal intimidation under s.503 PPC. Threats are not just words in law. ### What is the punishment under section 506 PPC? Up to 2 years, or fine, or both. For a threat to kill, cause grievous hurt, burn property or impute unchastity to a woman, up to 7 years. ### What is the punishment for an anonymous threat in Pakistan? Under s.507 PPC, where the name or address is hidden, up to 2 more years can be added on top. ### What proof do I need for a threat case? Keep screenshots, call logs and voice notes. Write down the date, time, place and exact words, and note the names of anyone who heard it. Courts have acquitted where no call record was collected. ### Is threatening to burn a house to make someone drop a case a crime? Yes. The illustration to s.503 PPC gives this exact example and says it is criminal intimidation. A threat to destroy property by fire falls in the 7 year part of s.506. ## Sources - Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 · Section 503: Criminal intimidation --- Educational legal information, not legal advice. Every case turns on its own facts. Speak to a qualified lawyer about your situation. Review status: Pending advocate review. FAI Media is part of FAI Legal (https://failegal.site), research on Pakistani statutes and judgments. Free to watch and read.