Public Order (Meetings) Ordinance, 1958

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THE PUBLIC ORDER (MEETINGS) ORDINANCE, 1958 
 
 
 
CONTENTS 
1.  Short title, extent and commencement 
2.  Definitions 
3.  Disorderly conduct at public meeting 
4.  Carrying of offensive weapons 
5.  Insulting language and incitement 
6.  Offences to be cognizable and non-bailable 
7.  Penalty 
 
 

 
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THE PUBLIC ORDER (MEETINGS) ORDINANCE, 1958 
 
ORDINANCE NO. IX OF 1958  
[1st July, 1958]  
 
An Ordinance to make provision for the preservation of public order on the occasion of public 
meetings and to prevent disturbance thereat. 
 
 WHEREAS it is expedient to make provision for the preservation of public order on the 
occasion of public meetings and to prevent disturbance thereat; 
 
 AND WHEREAS the National Assemble is not in session and the President is s atisfied that 
circumstances exist which render immediate action necessary; 
 
 NOW, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 69 of the Constitution 
and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf, the President is pleased to make and pro mulgate 
the following Ordinance, namely:___ 
 
 1. Short title, extent and commencement. ___ (1) This Ordinance may be called the Public 
Order (Meetings) Ordinance, 1958. 
 
 (2) It extends to the 1[Karachi Division]. 
 
 (3) It shall come into force at once. 
 
 2. Definitions.___ In this Ordinance,___  
 
(a) “meeting” means a meeting held for the purpose of the discussion of matters 
of public interest or for the purpose of the expression of views on such 
matters; 
 
(b) “public meeting” includes any meeting in a publ ic place and any meeting 
which the public or any section thereof are permitted to attend, whether on 
payment or otherwise; 
 
(c) “public place” means any highway, public park or garden, any sea beach, and 
any public bridge, road, lane, footway, square, court, alley or passage, whether 
a thoroughfare or not; and includes any open space to which, for the time 
being, the public have or are permitted to have access, whether on payment or 
otherwise; 
 
 (d) “public servant” has the same meaning as assigned to it in  section 21 of the 
Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860). 
 
 
 
 
 
1 Subs. by A.O., 1964, Art. 2 and Sch., for “Federal Territory of Karachi” which had been subs. by the Repealing and Amending O rdinance, 1961                       
Ordinance No. I  of 1961), s. 3 and 2nd Sch., for “Federal Capital”. 
 
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 3. Disorderly conduct at public meeting.___(1) Any person who at a public meeting acts in a 
disorderly manner for the purpose of preventing the transaction of the business for which the meeting 
was called together shall be guilty of an offence. 
 
 (2) Any person who incites others to commit an offence under this section shall be guilty of a 
like offence. 
 
 4. Carrying of offensive weapons. ___ Any person, not being a public servant acting in his 
capacity as such, who, while present in a public meeting, has with him any offensive weapon shall be 
guilty of an offence. 
 
 5. Insulting language and incitement. ___ Any person who in any public place or at any 
public meeting  uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or beha viour with intent to provoke a 
breach of the peace or whereby a breach of the peace is likely to be occasioned shall be guilty of an 
offence under this Ordinance. 
 
 6. Offences to be cognizable and non -bailable.___ Notwithstanding anything in the Code of 
Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898), an offence under this Ordinance shall be cognizable and 
non-bailable. 
 
 7. Penalty.___ An offence under this Ordinance shall be punishable with rigorous 
imprisonment which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both. 
 
 
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Date: 23-12-2024