Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) Order, 1979

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THE PROHIBITION (ENFORCEMENT OF HADD) ORDER (4 OF 
1979) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONTENTS 
 
1. Short title, extent and commencement. 
2. Definitions. 
3. Prohibition of manufacture, etc., of intoxicants. 
4. Owing or possessing intoxicant. 
5. Article 3 or Article 4 not to apply to certain acts. 
6. Drinking. 
7. Two kinds of drinking. 
8. Drinking liable to Hadd. 
9. Proof of drinking liable to Hadd. 
10. Cases in which Hadd shall not be enforced. 
11. Drinking liable to Tazir. 
12. Arrest on suspension of violation of Article 8 or Article 11. 
13. Punishment for vexatious delay. 
14. Things liable to confiscation. 
15. Confiscation how ordered. 
16. Cognizance of certain offences. 
17. Licences for ‘Bona Fide’ medicinal or other purposes. 

 
 
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18. Forms and conditions of licences. 
19. Power to cancel or suspend licences. 
20. Penalty for the breach of conditions of licence. 
21. Appointment of officers. 
22. Issue of search warrants. 
23. Powers of prohibition Officers. 
24. Enhanced punishment for certain offences after previous conviction. 
25. Punishment for attempt to commit offence punishable under this order. 
26. Application of certain provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860). 
27. Application of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898). 
28. Indemnity. 
29. Order to override other laws. 
30. presiding Officer of Court to be a Muslim. 
31. Power to make Rules. 
32. Saving. 
33. Repeal. 
 
 
 
  
 
 
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THE PROHIBITION (ENFORCEMENT OF HADD) ORDER, 1979 
 
 PRESIDENT’S ORDER No. 4 OF 1979 
 
[9th February, 1979] 
 
WHEREAS it is necessary to modify the existing law relating to prohibition of intoxicants so 
as to bring it in conformity with the injunctions of Islam as set out in the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah: 
 
NOW, T HEREFORE, in pursuance of the Proclamation of the Fifth day of  July, 1977 read 
with the Laws (Continuance in Force) Order, 1977 (C.M.L.A Order No. 1 of 1977), and in exercise 
of all powers enabling him in that behalf, the President and Chief Martial Law Administrator is 
pleased to make the following Order: 
 
CHAPTER I 
 PRELIMINARY 
 1. Short title, extent and commencement: (1) This Order may be called the Prohibition 
(Enforcement of Hadd) Order, 1979. 
 
 (2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan. 
 
 (3) It shall come into force on the twelfth day of Rabi -ul-Awwal, 1399 Hijri, that is, the tenth 
day of February, 1979. 
 
  2. Definitions: In this Order, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context— 
  
(a) “adult” means a person who has attained the age of eighteen years or puberty; 
 
(b) “authorised medical officer” means a medical Officer, howsoever designated,  
authorised by the Provincial Government; 
  
(c) “bottle” or “bottling” means to transfer intoxicating liquor from a cask or other 
vessel to a bottle, Jar, flask, pot or similar receptacle for the purpose of sale, 
whether any process of manufacture be employed or not, and includes 
rebottling; 
 
(d) “buy” or “buying” includes any receipt by way of gift or otherwise 
 
(e).  “Collector” means any person appointed under this Order to exercise or 
perform all or any of the powers or functions of a Collector under this Order; 
 
(f) “had” means punishment ordained by the Holy Qur’an or Sunnah; 
 
(g) “intoxicant” means an article specified in the Schedule and include 
intoxicating liquor and other article or any substance which the Provincial 
Government may , by notification in the official Gazette, declare to be an  
intoxicant for the purposes of this Order; 
 
(h) “intoxicating liquor ” includes toddy, spirits of. wine, beer and all liquids 
consisting of or containing alcohol normally used for purposes of intoxication, 
 
 
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but does not include a solid intoxicant even if liquified; 
 
(i) “manufacture” includes every process,  whether natural or artificial, by which 
any intoxicant is produced, prepared or blended, and also redistillation and 
every process for the rectification of intoxicating liquors; 
 
(j) “place” includes a house, shed, enclosure, building, shop, tent, vehicle ,      
vessel and aircraft; 
 
(k) “Prohibition Officer” means the Collector or any officer appointed or invested 
with powers under Article 21; 
 
(l) “public place” means a street, road, thoroughfare, park, garden or other place 
to which  the public have free  access and includes a hotel, restaurant, motel, 
mess and club, but does not include the residential room of a hotel in the 
occupation of some person; 
 
(m) “rectification” includes every  process whereby intoxicating liquors are 
purified, coloured or flavoured by mixing any material therewith; 
 
(n) “sale” or “selling” includes any transfer by way of gift or otherwise; 
 
(o) “ta’zir” means any punishment other than ‘hadd’; and  
 
(p)  “transport” means to move  from one place to another. 
 
CHAPTER II 
PROHIBITION AND PENALTIES 
 
 1[3. Prohibition of manufacture, etc., of intoxicants: (1) Subject to the provisions of Clause 
(2) whoever:— 
 
(a) imports, exports, transports, manufactures or processes any intoxicant; or 
 
(b) bottles any intoxicant; or 
 
(c) sells or serves any intoxicant; or 
 
(d) allows any of the acts aforesaid upon premises owned by him or his immediate 
possession; 
 
Shall be punishable with imprisonment of other description f or a term which may extend to five 
years and with whipping not exceeding thirty stripes, and shall be also be liable to fine. 
 
 2[(2) Whoever— 
 
(i) Import, exports, transports manufacture s, or traflic s in, opium or coca leaf or 
coca derivatives; or 
 
(ii) finances the import, export, transport, manufacture, or traflicking of, opium or 
coca leaf or opium or coca derivatives; 
 
1Re-numbered and subs. by the Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) (Amdt.) Order, 1983 (P.O 12 of 1983), Art, 2. 
2Added and subs., ibid., Art. 3. 
 
 
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shall be punishable with imprisonment for life or with imprisonment which is not less than two years 
and with whipping not exceeding thirty stripes, and shall also be liable to fine.] 
 
4. Owning or possessing intoxicant: Whoever owns, possesses or keeps in-his custody any 
intoxicant shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to 
two years, or with whipping not exceeding thirty stripes, and shall also be liable to fine: 
 
Provided that nothing contained in thi s Article shall apply to a non -Muslim foreigner or to a 
non-Muslim citizen of Pakistan who keeps in his custody at or about the time of ceremony 
prescribed by his religion a reasonable quantity of intoxicating liquor for the purpose of using it as a 
part of such ceremony [:]2 
 
2[Provided further that, if the intoxicant in respect of which the offence is committed is 
heroin, cocaine 1[*], opium or coca leaf, and the quantity exceeds ten grams in the case of heroin or 
cocaine or one kilogram in the case of 1[*] opium or coca leaf, the offender shall be punishable with 
imprisonment for life or with imprisonment which is not less than two ye ars and with whipping not 
exceeding thirty stripes, and shall also be liable to fine.] 
 
5. Article 3 or Article 4 not to apply to certain acts: Nothing contained in Article 3 or 
Article 4 shall apply to any act done under, and in accordance with the provis ions of this Order, or 
the terms of any rule, notification, order or license issued there under. 
 
6. Drinking: Whoever, intentionally and without ‘ikrah’ or ‘iztirar’ takes an intoxicant by 
any means whatsoever, whether such taking causes intoxication or not, shall be guilty of drinking. 
 
Explanation: In this Article: 
 
(a) ‘ikrah’ means putting any person in fear of injury to the person, property or 
honour of that or any other person; and 
 
(b) ‘iztirar’ means a situation in which a person is in apprehension of death due to 
extreme hunger or thirst or serious illness. 
 
7. Two kinds of drinking: Drinking may be either drinking liable to ‘Hadd’ or drinking 
liable to Tazir’. 
 
8. Drinking liable to ‘hadd’ : Whoever being an adult Muslim takes intoxicating liquor by 
mouth is guilty of drinking liable to ‘hadd’ and shall be punished with whipping numbering eighty 
stripes: 
 
Provided that the punishment shall not be executed unless it is confirmed by the Court to 
which an appeal from the order of conviction lies; and until the punishment is confirmed and 
executed, the convict shall, subject to the provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, 
relating to the grant of bail or suspension of sentence, be dealt wi th in the same manner as if 
sentenced to simple imprisonment. 
 
1Omitted by the Act the Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) (Amdt.) Act, 1994 (Act No. VI of 1994) s.2. 
2Added and Subs., ibid., Art.3. 
 
 
 
 
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9. Proof of drinking liable to Hadd: The proof of drinking liable to ‘hadd’ shall be in  one 
of the following forms, namely:— 
 
(a) the accused makes before a Court of competent jurisdiction a confession of 
the commission of drinking liable to ‘hadd’; and 
 
(b) at least two Muslim adult male witnesses, about whom the Court is satisfied, 
having regard to the requirement of ‘tazkiyah-al-shuhood’, that they are 
truthful persons and abstain from major sins (kabair) give evidence of the 
accused having committed the offence of drinking liable to hadd. 
 
Explanation.—In this Article, t azkiyah-al-shuhood’ means the mode of inquiry adopted by a Court 
to satisfy itself as to the credibility of a witness. 
 
10. Cases in which Hadd shall not be enforced: (1)’Hadd’ shall not be enforced in the 
following cases, namely:— 
 
(a) when drinking is proved only by the confession of the convict, but he retracts 
his confession before the execution of’hadd’; and 
 
(b) when drinking is proved by, testimony, but before the execution of ‘hadd’, 
any witness resiles from his testimony so as to reduce the number of witnesses 
to less than two. 
 
 (2) In a case mentioned in (1), the Court may order retrial in accordance with the Code of 
Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898). 
 
11. Drinking liable to tazir: Whoever— 
 
(a) being a Muslim, is guilty of drinking which is not liable to ‘hadd’ under 
Article 8 or for which proof in either of th e forms mentioned in Article 9 is 
not available and the Court is satisfied that the offence stands proved by the 
evidence on the record; 
 
(b) being a non-Muslim citizen of Pakistan, is guilty of drinking except as a part 
of a ceremony prescribed by his religion; or 
 
(c) being a non -Muslim who is not a citizen of Pakistan, is guilty of drinking at 
public place; 
 
shall be liable to tazir and shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which 
may extend to three years or with whipping not exceeding thirty stripes, or with both. 
 
 12. Arrest on suspension of violation of Article 8 or Article 11: No police officer sha ll 
detain or arrest any person on suspicion that he has taken an intoxicant in violation of Article 8 or 11 
unless he has asked such person to accompany him to an authorsied medical officer for examination 
and such person either refuses to so accompany him  or having been examined by the medical 
practitioner, is certified by him to have taken an intoxicant. 
 
 
 
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 (2)  Whoever contravenes the provisions of clause (1) shaft be punishable with  imprisonment 
for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or 
with both. 
 
13. Punishment for vexatious delay: Any officer or person exercising powers under this 
Order who vexatiously and unnecessarily delays forwarding to a Prohibition Officer any person 
arrested or any article seized under this Order shall be punishable with fine which may extend to one 
thousand rupees. 
 
14. Thinks liable to confiscation: in any case in which an offence has been committed 
under this Order, the intoxicant, still, utensil, implement or appara tus in respect or by means of 
which the offence has been committed shall be liable to confiscation along with the receptacles, 
packages, coverings, animals, vessels, carts or other vehicles used to hold or carry the same. 
 
15. Confiscation how ordered:  (1) In any case involving anything liable to confiscation 
under this Order, the Court deciding the case may order such confiscation despite the acquittal of the 
person charged. 
 
(2) When an offence under this Order has been committed but the offender is not k nown or 
cannot be found, or when anything liable to confiscation under this Order and not in the possession 
of any person cannot be satisfactorily accounted for , the case shall be inquired into and determined 
by the Collector or other Prohibition Officer i n charge of the District of any other officer authorised 
by the Provincial Government in this behalf, who may order such confiscation: 
 
Provided that no such order shall be made until the expiration of fifteen days from the date of 
seizure of the things intended to be confiscated or without hearing the persons, if any, claiming any 
right thereto and evidence, if any, which they produce in support of their claims. 
 
16. Cognizance of certain offences: (1) The following offences shall be cognizable, namely: 
  
(a) an offence punishable under Article 3; and 
 
(b) an offence punishable under Article 4, Article 8 or Article 11, if committed at 
a public place. 
 
2.   No Court shall take cognizance of an offence punishable under- 
 
(a) Article 12 or Article 13, save on a complaint made by the person in respect of 
whom the offence has been committed; and 
 
(b) Article 20, save on a complaint made by, or under the authority of, a 
Prohibition Officer. 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
LICENCES FOR MEDICINAL OR SIMILAR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
 17. Licences for bonafide medicinal or other purposes: The Provincial Government or, 
subject to the control of the Provincial Government, the Collector, may issue licences to any person 
in respect of any institution, whether under the management of Government or not: — 
 
 
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(a) for the manufacture, import, transport, s ale or possession of any intoxicant or 
article containing intoxicating liquor on the ground that such intoxicant  or 
article is required by such person in respect of such institution for a bona fide 
medicinal, scientific, industrial or similar other purpose or for consumption by 
a non -Muslim citizen of Pakistan as a part of a religious ceremony or by a 
non-Muslim foreigner; or 
 
(b) for the export of any intoxicant or article containing intoxicating liquor. 
 
 18. Forms and conditions of licences: Every licence issued under this Order shall:— 
 
(a) be granted on payment of such fee, if any, for such period and on such 
condition; and 
  
(b)   be in such form and contain such particulars,  
 
as the Provincial Government may direct, either generally or in any particular case. 
 
 19. Power to cancel or suspend licences: (1) The Collector may cancel or suspend a 
licence: 
 
(a)   if any fee payable by the holder thereof be not duly paid, or 
 
(b)   in the event of any breach by the holder thereof or by his servant or by any 
one acting with his express or implied permission on his behalf of any of the 
terms or conditions of the licence. 
 
(2)  The Collector shall cancel a licence if— 
 
(a) the holder thereof is convicted of any offence under this Order; or 
 
(b) the purpose for which licence is granted ceases to exist. 
 
(3) As and when any licence is cancelled under clause (1) or clause (2), the holder thereof 
shall at once declare to the Collector the stock of intoxicating liquor or articles containing such liquor 
lying with him, and dispose of such stock to such authorised person as the Collector may specify. 
 
20. Penalty for the breach of conditions of licence: In the event of any breach by the 
holder of a licence or by his servant or by any one acting with his express or implied permission on 
his behalf, of any of the terms and conditions of the licence, such holder shall, in addition to the 
cancellation or suspension of the licence, and in addition to any other punishment to which he may 
be liable under this Order, be punishable with imprisonment 1[for life or with imprisonment which is 
not less than two years] and with fine, unless he proves that he exercised a ll due diligence to prevent 
such breach, and any person who commits any such breach shall, whether he acts with or without the 
permission of the holder of the license, also be liable to the same punishment. 
 
CHAPTER IV 
ESTABLISHMENT AND CONTROL 
21. Appointment of officers: The Provincial Government may, from time to time, by 
notification in the official Gazette:- 
1Subs. by P.O. 12 of 1983, Art. 4. 
 
 
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(a) appoint an officer to exercise all  the powers of Collector under this Order in 
any area specified in the notification and to have the control of the 
administration of the provisions of this Order in such area; 
 
(b) appoint officers with such designations, powers and duties as the Provincia l 
Government may think fit to assist the Collector or other Prohibition Officer; 
and 
 
(c) delegate to any Prohibition Officer all or any of its powers under this Order. 
 
CHAPTER V 
POWERS, DUTIES AND PROCEDURE OF OFFICERS, ETC. 
 22. Issue of search warrants : (1) If any Collector, Prohibition Officer or Magistrate, upon 
information obtained and after such inquiry as he thinks necessary, has reason to believe that an 
offence under Article 3, Article 4, Article 8 or Article 11 has been committed, he may issue a  
warrant for the search for any intoxicant, material, still, utensil, implement or apparatus in respect of 
which the alleged offence has been committed. 
 
 (2) Any person has been entrusted with the execution of such a warrant may detain and  
search and, if he thinks proper, but subject to the provision of clause (1) of Article 12, arrest any 
person found in the place searched, if he has reason to believe such person to be guilty of an offence 
under Article 3, Article 4, Article 8 or Article 11. 
 
 23. Powers of Prohibition Officer: In addition to the powers conferred on him by the 
foregoing provisions of this Order, a Prohibition Officer shall have all the powers conferred on the 
officer in charge of a police station while conducting an investigation into a cognizable offence. 
 24. Enhanced punishment for certain offences after previous conviction: Whoever, 
having been convicted by a Court of an offence  punishable under this order,  shall be guilty of that 
offence shall, in addition to the punishment provided for that offence,  be awarded for every such 
subsequent offence the punishment of imprisonment provided for that offence. 
 
 25. Punishment for attempt to commit offence punishable under this Order: Whoever 
attempts to commit an offence p unishable under this Order or to cause such an offence to be 
committed, and in such attempt does any act towards the commission of the offence, shall be 
punished, in the Case of an offence punishable under Article 8, with rigorous imprisonment for a 
term which may extend to two years, and in other cases, with imprisonment for a term which may 
extend to one-half of the longest term provided for that offence, or with such whipping or fine as is 
provided for the offence or with any two of or all, the punishments. 
 
 26. Application of certain provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860):  (1) 
Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Order, the provisions of Sections 34 to 38 of Chapter II, 
Sections 63 to 72 of Chapter III, and Chapters V and V -A of the Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of 
1860), shall apply, mutatis mutandis, in respect of offences under this Order. 
 
 (2)Whoever is guilty of the abetment of an offence liable to ‘hadd’ under this Order shall be 
liable to the punishment provided for such offence as ‘Tazir’ 
 
 
 
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 27. Application of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898): Unless 
otherwise expressly provided in this Order, the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 
(Act V of 1898), hereinafter referred to as the said Code,  shall apply mutatis mutandis in respect of 
cases under this Order: 
 
Provided that, if it appears in evidence that the offender has committed a different offence 
under any other law, he may, if the Court is competent to try that offence and to award punishment 
therefore, be convicted and punished for that offence 1[:] 
 
2[Provided further that an offence punishable under Article 8 shall be triable by a Court of 
Session and not by a Magistrate authorised under Section 30 of the said Code and on appeal from an 
order under that Article 3[or from an order under any other provis ion of this Order which imposes a 
sentence of imprisonment for a term exceeding two years] shall lie to the Federal Shariat Court: 
 
Provided further that a trial by a Court of Session under this Order shall ordinarily be held at 
the headquarters of the Tehsil in which the offence is alleged to have been committed.] 
 
(2) The provisions of the said Code relating to the confirmation of the sentence of death shall  
apply, mutates mutandis to the confirmation of a sentence under this Order. 
 
(3) The provisions of sub-section (3) of Section 391 or Section 393 of the said Code shall not 
apply in respect of the punishment of whipping awarded under this Order. 
 
(4) The provisions of Chapter XXIX of the said Code shall not apply in respect of the 
punishment awarded under Article 8. 
 
28. Indemnity: No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against a Provincial 
Government, a Police Officer, a Prohibition Officer or any other officer in respect of anything which 
is in good faith done under this Order or the rules made there under. 
 
29. Order to override other Laws: This Order shall have effect notwithstanding anything 
contained in any other law for the time being in force. 
 
30. Presiding Officer of Court to be a Muslim: This Presiding Officer of the Court by 
which a case is tried, or an appeal is heard, under this Order shall be a Muslim: 
 
 Provided that if the accused is a non-Muslim, the Presiding Officer may be a non- Muslim. 
 
31. Power to make Rules: (1) The Provincial Government may, by notification in the 
official Gazette, make 4rules for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this Order. 
 
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of th e foregoing provisions, the 
Provincial Government may make rules:—  
 
(a) for the issue of licences and the enforcement of the conditions thereof; 
 
(b) prescribing the powers to be exercised and the duties to be performed by 
Prohibition Officers in furtherance of the object of this Order; 
 
1Subs. by the Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) (Amdt.) order, 1980 (P.O. No.5 of 1980), Art. 2, for full stop. 
2Provisos added ibid. 
3Ins. By the Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) (Amdt.) order, 1982 (P.O. No. 6 of 1982), Art. 2. 
4for the Islamabad Capital Territory Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) Rules, 1981, see Gaz. Of P., 1981, Ext., (Islamabad), pt. III dated 29 -1-81, pp. 
60-65. 
 
 
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(c) determining the local jurisdiction of Prohibition Officers in  regard to inquiries 
and investigations; 
 
(d) authorising any officer to exercise any power or perform any duty under this 
Order; 
 
(e) regulating the delegation by the Collector or other Proh ibition Officers of any 
powers conferred on them by or under this Order; 
 
(f) declaring in what cases or classes of cases and to what authorities appeals 
shall lie from orders, whether original or appellate, passed by an authority 
other than a Court under this Order or under any rules made there under or by 
what authorities such order may be revised, and prescribing the time and 
manner of presenting appeals, and procedure for dealing therewith; 
 
(g) for the disposal of articles confiscated and of the proceeds thereof; and 
 
(h) examination of persons referred to in Article 12. 
 
32. Saving: Nothing in this Order shall be deemed to apply to cases pending before any 
Court immediately before the commencement of this Order or to offences committed before such 
commencement. 
 
 33.  Repeal: The following laws are hereby repealed, namely:—  
 
(a) the Prohibition Act, 1977 (XXIV of 1977); 
 
(b) the Balochistan Prohibition Ordinance, 1978 (Balochistan Ordi nance No. XI 
of 1978); 
 
(c) the North -West Frontier Province Prohibition Ordinance, 1978 (N. -W.F.P. 
Ordinance No. VI of 1978); 
 
(d) the Punjab Prohibition Ordinance, 1978 (Punjab Ordinance No. VI of 1978); 
and 
 
(e) the Sind Prohibition Ordinance, 1978 (Sind Ordinance No. IV of 1978). 
 
_______ 
 
THE SCHEDULE 
 
[see Article 2 (g)] 
 
1. The leaves, small stalks and flowering or fruiting tops of the Indian hemp plant 
(Cannabis Sativa L.) including all forms known as bhang, Siddhi or ganja. 
 
2. Charas, that is, the resin obtained from the Indian hemp plant, which has not been 
submitted to any manipulations other than those necessary for packing or transport. 
 
 
 
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3. Any mixture, with or without natural materials, of any of the articles mentioned in 
entries 1 and 2, or any drink prepared there from. 
 
4. Opium and opium derivatives as defined in t he Dangerous Drugs Act, 1930 (II of  
1930). 
 
5. Coca leaf and coca derivatives as defined in the aforesaid Act. 
 
6. Hashish.