The juvenile justice system is designed to protect, promote, and rehabilitate children who come into conflict with the law and those who need special care and healing until they reach the age of majority. It is a system that believes addressing children's criminal behavior and intervening early will deter adolescents from engaging in criminal behavior as adults. Pakistan had no separate system to address children's involvement with the law. All offenders over the age of 7 years are treated the same. Under Section 82 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 (No. XLV), the minimum age for criminal responsibility in Pakistan is 7 years. In 2000, the Juvenile Justice System Ordinance (JJSO) was introduced in Pakistan.
