A defence lawyer outside the Sindh High Court in Karachi last week told reporters that the terms “half fry” and “full fry” have become disturbingly common in rape trials. The phrases, he said, are being used to describe the severity of sexual violence alleged in the case. Half fry refers to a lesser degree of assault, while full fry signals a more brutal attack. The Sindh High Court has not yet defined these terms in any judgment, but their use in open court has alarmed legal experts and women’s rights activists.

The first recorded mention of the slang in a court transcript surfaced in a 2024 case in Hyderabad, where a defence lawyer reportedly argued that the victim had suffered only a “half-fry” assault. The prosecution objected, calling the phrase “a grotesque trivialisation of sexual violence.” The judge did not strike the comment from the record but did not endorse the term either. Since then, lawyers in at least three other rape trials in Karachi and Sukkur have used the slang, according to court observers who spoke to Naya Pakistan on condition of anonymity.

  • Where it’s happening: Sindh High Court (Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur benches)
  • When it started: First noted in 2024 Hyderabad case; now reported in multiple 2025 trials
  • Who’s using it: Defence lawyers, occasionally prosecutors and judges in passing remarks
  • What it implies: A hierarchy of harm that critics say has no basis in Pakistan’s Penal Code

Legal experts warn that the slang risks normalising a hierarchy of sexual violence, implying that some rapes are less serious than others. Under Pakistan’s Qanoon-e-Tahreer-e-Jinoayat (QTJ) 2016, rape is defined as penetration without consent, with no gradations of severity. The law prescribes the same punishment—death penalty or life imprisonment—regardless of the level of violence or injury sustained.

Why this slang is spreading

The use of “half fry” and “full fry” appears to be a localised courtroom shorthand, possibly originating in Sindh’s lower courts before migrating to the High Court. Defence lawyers told Naya Pakistan that the terms help them argue for reduced sentences by suggesting the assault was less severe. One lawyer, who requested anonymity, said: “If the victim didn’t suffer visible injuries, we call it half fry. It’s a way to show the court the harm wasn’t extreme.”

Prosecutors and women’s rights groups reject this framing. Mehwish Bano, a Karachi-based lawyer and women’s rights activist, called the terms “a violation of the survivor’s dignity.” “Rape is rape. There is no ‘half’ or ‘full’ version. This language reinforces the idea that some women’s suffering is less worthy of justice,” she said.

What the law says

Pakistan’s Qanoon-e-Tahreer-e-Jinoayat (QTJ) 2016 does not recognise degrees of rape. Section 376(1) prescribes:

  • Punishment: Death penalty or imprisonment for life, with a fine
  • Evidence: Requires either medical evidence or the testimony of at least two witnesses
  • No gradation: The law treats all penetrative assaults as equally grave

The Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act 2010 and Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act 2016 also define sexual violence as a single, serious offence. Yet the emergence of “half fry” and “full fry” suggests some lawyers are trying to introduce a hierarchy that the law does not permit.

What happens next

The Sindh High Court has not issued any directive on the use of these terms. However, the Sindh Women’s Commission has written to the Sindh High Court Chief Justice requesting an official clarification. “We have asked the court to issue a practice direction barring the use of such slang in rape trials,” said Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Chairperson of the Sindh Women’s Commission. The commission has also urged the Bar Councils of Sindh to sensitise lawyers against using such language.

Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Law and Justice has not commented on the issue. When contacted, a spokesperson said only: “We are aware of the reports. The matter is under consideration.”

What you can do

If you are a survivor, witness, or family member involved in a rape case in Sindh:

  • Request a certified copy of the court transcript if the slang is used. You can apply at the Sindh High Court registry in Karachi, Hyderabad, or Sukkur. The fee is Rs 5 per page.
  • Object in writing to the judge if the terms are used. Ask for the remarks to be struck from the record under Section 164 of the Qanoon-e-Shahadat Order 1984, which allows objections to irrelevant or prejudicial remarks.
  • Report to the Sindh Women’s Commission if the language is used repeatedly. Email: info@sindhwomencommission.gov.pk or call 021-99213344.
  • Seek legal aid from organisations like War Against Rape (WAR) or Aurat Foundation. Their helplines operate 24/7: WAR: 021-35682770, Aurat Foundation: 021-35683014.

What to watch

  • Sindh High Court ruling: Expected within weeks on whether to issue a practice direction barring the slang.
  • Bar Council sensitisation: The Sindh Bar Council may hold workshops for lawyers on victim-centred language.
  • Federal response: The Ministry of Law and Justice may issue a nationwide advisory if the issue escalates.

Critics warn that unless the courts act, the slang could spread to other provinces, normalising a dangerous hierarchy of sexual violence. As one Karachi-based prosecutor put it: “Once you start calling rape ‘half fry,’ you’re telling survivors that some rapes are less worthy of justice. That’s a slippery slope no society should accept.”