Free Criminal Law MCQs with Answers

• A. The prosecution need not prove a guilty mind for the prohibited act
• B. The accused must prove every element of the alleged offence
• C. The offence can be tried only after a civil claim is decided
• D. The prosecution must prove a specific motive beyond the prohibited act

Explanation: A strict-liability offence generally imposes liability without requiring proof of mens rea for the relevant act.

• A. Five or more persons conjointly commit or attempt to commit robbery
• B. Two or more persons secretly agree to commit any future offence
• C. A single person uses force while entering another person’s house
• D. Three or more persons receive property knowing it to be stolen

Explanation: Dacoity requires five or more persons acting conjointly in committing or attempting robbery, or aiding it.

• A. Other than qisas, diyat, arsh or daman
• B. Imposed only when the victim forgives the offender
• C. Limited to compensation for bodily injury
• D. Automatically fixed at the same amount for every offence

Explanation: Ta'zir is a punishment other than qisas, diyat, arsh or daman under the Pakistan Penal Code.

• A. The use of criminal force against that person
• B. The permanent loss of the person’s property
• C. The filing of a civil claim against that person
• D. The arrest of the person under a valid warrant

Explanation: Assault involves a gesture or preparation causing a person to apprehend that criminal force is about to be used.

• A. Voluntarily obstructing a person from proceeding in a lawful direction
• B. Detaining a person within fixed boundaries so that escape is impossible
• C. Taking movable property without consent and with dishonest intention
• D. Threatening a person to cause alarm or compel an unlawful act

Explanation: Wrongful restraint occurs when a person is voluntarily obstructed from proceeding in a direction in which that person has a right to…

• A. Force or violence in prosecution of the assembly’s common object
• B. Deception to obtain property belonging to another person
• C. Threats intended to alarm a particular individual
• D. An agreement to commit an offence at a later time

Explanation: Rioting requires the use of force or violence by an unlawful assembly, or by a member of it, in prosecution of its common object.

• A. Due care and attention
• B. A reasonable personal motive
• C. The consent of every affected person
• D. A written direction from a public servant

Explanation: Section 52 defines good faith by requiring due care and attention. A person’s honest belief alone is not sufficient if the conduct lacks…

• A. The person is treated as having the same knowledge as if sober
• B. The person is conclusively treated as having no criminal knowledge
• C. The person is automatically excused from offences requiring knowledge
• D. The person is treated as lacking knowledge unless injury actually occurs

Explanation: For offences requiring knowledge, voluntary intoxication does not generally remove the knowledge attributed to the accused.

• A. Dishonestly converting movable property to one’s own use
• B. Taking property by fear of instant death or wrongful restraint
• C. Obtaining property through deception and induced delivery
• D. Receiving property while knowing it was previously stolen

Explanation: Dishonest misappropriation includes dishonestly misappropriating or converting movable property to one’s own use.

• A. The prosecution must establish guilt according to the criminal standard of proof
• B. The accused must prove innocence before the prosecution presents its case
• C. The court must accept the accused’s explanation whenever it is plausible
• D. The complainant must personally prove every fact without prosecutorial assistance

Explanation: The presumption of innocence places the primary burden of proving guilt on the prosecution, normally beyond reasonable doubt.

• A. Forfeiture of property
• B. Daman
• C. Community service
• D. Imprisonment for life

Explanation: Section 53 recognizes punishments such as forfeiture, daman and imprisonment for life.

• A. Compensation determined by the court for causing hurt
• B. Compensation paid only for loss of property
• C. A fixed payment made to the state
• D. A punishment involving confiscation of property

Explanation: Daman is compensation determined by the court and paid by the offender to the victim for causing hurt.

• A. Three persons
• B. Four persons
• C. Five persons
• D. Seven persons

Explanation: An unlawful assembly consists of five or more persons having a legally specified common object.

• A. When the property taken exceeds a prescribed value
• B. When the offender is present and creates fear of immediate harm
• C. When the victim reports the offence to the police
• D. When the property is taken secretly from a building

Explanation: Extortion becomes robbery when the offender is present and puts the victim in fear of immediate death, hurt or wrongful restraint, causing…

• A. Criminal force requires actual use of force, while assault concerns apprehension of force
• B. Criminal force applies only to property, while assault applies only to persons
• C. Criminal force requires a completed injury, while assault requires no intention
• D. Criminal force is always lawful, while assault is always punishable

Explanation: Criminal force involves the intentional use of force without consent in the circumstances specified by law.

• A. Taken precautions to conceal the trespass from a person entitled to exclude him
• B. Entered only through the main entrance of the building
• C. Taken property from the building after sunset
• D. Obtained the owner’s permission by deception

Explanation: Lurking house-trespass requires concealment from a person who has the right to exclude the trespasser.

• A. The police may generally arrest without a warrant
• B. The offence must always be tried by a jury
• C. The accused cannot obtain bail in any circumstances
• D. The offence can be prosecuted only by a private complainant

Explanation: In a cognizable case, the police generally have authority to arrest without a warrant and investigate according to law.

• A. A statutory exception to the definition of murder
• B. A claim that the victim suffered financial loss
• C. A later change in the accused’s personal circumstances
• D. A private agreement made after the death

Explanation: The definition of murder is subject to specified exceptions, such as grave and sudden provocation or certain circumstances involving…

• A. A corporation can never be prosecuted because it has no physical body
• B. A corporation may be prosecuted where the law permits liability for its acts or omissions
• C. A corporation is automatically liable for every offence by its employee
• D. A corporation can be punished only through private compensation

Explanation: A corporation may face criminal proceedings where the offence and applicable law permit attribution of conduct or responsibility to it.

• A. The complainant privately forgives the accused in every case
• B. The offence is listed as compoundable under the applicable law
• C. The accused offers compensation before any investigation
• D. The police decide that prosecution is unnecessary

Explanation: Compounding is permitted only for offences identified as compoundable by the applicable legal provision, usually subject to stated…