Can we file a class action in Pakistan for a bank’s hidden charges affecting many customers?

Information Pakistan does not have U.S.-style class actions
3 Options Available
1. Consumer Court -- For refund + compensation
2. Civil Suit.. Representative Suit Order 1 Rule 8 CPC
3. Constitutional Petition (Writ) against Pakistan Banking Company.

If a bank has deducted “service fees” that were not properly disclosed in the account opening documents, schedule of charges, or agreed terms and conditions, the matter may raise issues of unfair trade practice, deficiency of service, and potentially unlawful enrichment. In Pakistan, group or collective claims are possible, although they are not structured in the same way as U.S.-style class actions. Under the Code of Civil Procedure, one or more persons may file a representative suit on behalf of numerous persons having the same interest in the matter, subject to the permission of the court. Additionally, complaints may be pursued before consumer courts where applicable, and regulatory complaints can be filed with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), which oversees banking practices and consumer protection compliance. For a representative claim, members are typically identified by demonstrating that they are part of a clearly defined group affected by the same conduct—for example, all account holders of a specific branch or category of account who were charged the undisclosed fee during a defined period. Evidence would include bank statements showing the deductions, copies of account opening forms, the applicable schedule of charges, and any communications from the bank. Public complaints from similarly affected customers can support the pattern, but each claimant’s individual deduction record will be relevant for quantification. In terms of compensation, affected customers may seek refund of the unlawfully deducted amounts, markup or interest on those amounts, and potentially damages if financial loss beyond the deduction can be demonstrated. In some cases, courts may also award costs of litigation. However, punitive damages are not commonly awarded in banking disputes unless there is clear evidence of bad faith or fraud. As a practical first step, it is advisable to formally write to the bank demanding clarification and refund, while simultaneously lodging a complaint through the SBP’s Banking Mohtasib mechanism. If the issue appears systemic and affects a substantial number of customers, a coordinated legal strategy—either through a representative civil suit or multiple aligned claims—can be evaluated based on the documentation available. If you can share the nature of the account, the amount deducted, and whether the fee appears anywhere in the signed documentation, I can assess the strength of a potential collective action more precisely. Kind regards, Rana Muhammad Ahmad