CRIME INVESTIGATION IN PAKISTAN: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF INVESTIGATIVE APPROACHES AND METHODOLOGIES IN DEVELOPED JURISDICTIONS

Abstract

Pakistan's criminal justice system operates under a colonial-era legal framework, the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC 1898) and the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC 1860), that has seen only marginal revision since their inception. This research paper undertakes a rigorous comparative examination of crime investigation methodology in Pakistan alongside practices in the United States, the United Kingdom, and India. Drawing on the historical evolution of investigative science, relevant theoretical frameworks, forensic capabilities, and systemic deficiencies. The paper demonstrates that Pakistan's investigative process is undermined by inadequate training, pervasive political interference, poor documentation, compromised chain of custody, and an under-resourced forensic infrastructure. The paper identifies priority reform areas and advances a set of evidence-informed recommendations aimed at modernising Pakistan's investigative apparatus, strengthening the rule of law, and improving conviction rates.