Pakistan Arms Ordinance, 1965

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The [Pakistan] Arms Ordinance,1965 
 (XX OF 1965) 
 
 
CONTENT 
_____ 
 
CHAPTER 1  
PRELIMINARY 
1. Short title and commencement.  
2.  Exception.  
3. Definitions.  
CHAPTER II 
SALE AND REPAIR 
4. Unlicensed sale and repair prohibited. 
CHAPTER III 
TRANSPORT 
5. Power to prohibit transport. 
6. Power to establish searching posts. 
7. Arrest of persons conveying arms, etc., under suspicious circumstances.  
CHAPTER IV 
GOING ARMED AND POSSESSING ARMS, ETC. 
8. Prohibition of going armed without licence. 
9. Unlicensed possession of arms, etc. 
10.  In certain cases arms to be deposited at police station or with licensed dealers.  
CHAPTER V  
LICENCES 
11.  Power to make rules as to licences. 
11–A).  Power of the Federal Government. 
11-B.  Prohibition of keeping, carrying, or displaying arms. 
12. Cancellation and suspension of licences. 
CHAPTER VI 
PENALTIES 
13. Penalty for breach of Sections 4, 5, 8 to 11. 
Updated till 23.9.2021 
 

 
 
14.  Certain breaches of Sections 4, 5, 9 and 21. 
14- A Certain offences triable by Magistrates. 
15.  Breach of licence. 
16.   Knowingly purchasing arms, etc., from unlicensed persons. 
17. Penalty for breach of rules. 
18. Penalty for failure to give information under Section 23. 
19. Penalty for refusing or neglecting to produce arms. 
20. Power to confiscate. 
CHAPTER VII  
MISCELLANEOUS 
21. Search and seizure by magistrate. 
22. Seizure end detention by Government. 
23. Information be given regarding offences.  
24. Searches in the case of offences how conducted.  
25. Operation of other laws not barred. 
26. Power to take census of arms. 
27. Power to exempt. 
28. Notice and limitation of proceedings. 
29. Repeal. 
 
  
 
 
1The 2[Pakistan] Arms Ordinance,1965 
 (XX OF 1965) 
 
[8th June, 1965] 
An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the law relating to the sale, transport; bearing or 
possession of arms, ammunition or military stores 
 
Preamble: WHEREAS it is expedient to consolidate the law relating to the sale, transport, 
bearing or possession of arms, ammunition or military stores, in the manner hereinafter appearing; 
 
AND WHEREAS  the Provincial Assembly of West Pakistan is not in session and the 
Governor of West Pakistan is satisfied that circumstances exist which render immediate legislation 
necessary ; 
 
NOW THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by clause (1)of Article 
79 of the Constitution, the Governor of West Pakistan is pleased to make and promulgate the 
following Ordinance :— 
CHAPTER 1  
PRELIMINARY 
 
1. Short title, extent and commencement: (1) This Ordinance may be called the Pakistan 
Arms Ordinance, 1965. 
 
(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan except the Tribal Areas, 
 
(3) It shall come into force at once. 
 
2.  Exception : Nothing contained in this Ordinance shall apply to— 
 
(a) arms, ammunition or military stores on board any sea-going vessel and forming 
part of her ordinary armament or equipment; or 
 
 
(b) the sale, transport, bearing or possession of arms, ammunition or military stores 
by order of the 3[Federal Government] or a Provincial Government, as the case 
may be, or by a public servant or a member of any of the non-regular forces raised 
or maintained by or under the authority of the 3[Federal Government] or a 
Provincial Government, in the course of his duty as such public servant or 
member. 
 
 
 
1This Ord. was promulgated by the Governor of W.P. on 8 th June, 1965; approved by the Provincial Assembly of W.P. on 10 th July, 1965, 
under clause (3) of Article 79 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (1962); and, published in the W.P. Gazette (Extra -ordinary, 
dated 10th July, 1965, pages 3673-84.) 
2Subs. by Act XXXVIII of 1974, for “West Pakistan”.   
3Subs. by Act XXXVIII of 1974, for “Central Government”.  
 
 
3. Definitions:__ (1) In this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires, the 
following expressions shall have the meanings hereby respectively assigned to them, that is so 
say— 
(a) "ammunition" includes- 
 
(i) ammunition of all types for light and heavy automatic weapons, revolvers, 
pistols, rifles, carbines, muskets and shotguns; 
 
(ii) ammunition constructed and modified for firing projectiles or gas or 
smoke containers; 
 
(iii) gun wads, gun flints, percussion-caps, fuses, friction tubes and detonators; 
 
(iv) all types of grenades, bombs, rockets, mines and fuels for flame throwers ; 
 
(v) all types of explosives, fulminating material and propellants, including all 
articles specially designed for torpedo operation and charges ; 
 
(vi) all parts of ammunition, but does not include lead, sulphur or saltpeter; 
 
(b) "arms" includes— 
cannon; 
 
(i) fire-arms of all types, such as light and heavy automatic and semi -
automatic weapons, rifles, carbines, m uskets, shotguns (whether single or 
double barreled), revolvers, pistols and appliances the object of which is 
the silencing of fire arms; 
 
1[(iii) air pistols, bayonets, swords, sword -sticks daggers, knives with blades of 
four inches or more (but not kitchen knives or knives used in good faith 
for the carrying on of a profession ), and flick- knives irrespective of the 
blade;] 
 
(iii) knuckle-dusters, spears, spear-heads, bows and arrows and parts of arms; 
 
(c) "cannon" includes— 
 
(i) all types of artillery, mortars, machine and sub-machine guns; 
 
 
 
1Subs. by W.P. Ord. XI of 1969.  
 
 
 
 
 
(ii) silencers for all machines and sub-machine guns 
 
(iii) anti-tank rifles and recoil-less guns or rifles and bazookas; 
 
(iv) revolvers or pistols over 46 inches bore; 
 
(v) nuclear weapons of all types; 
 
(vi) projectors, guided missiles, and dischargers for grenades, rockets, bombs 
and gas or smoke containers; 
 
(vii) flame throwers of all types; 
 
(viii) all carriages, platforms and appliances for mounting or transporting 
cannon; and 
 
(ix) parts of cannon; 
 
1[(d) “Government" means the "Federal Government for the whole of Pakistan and the 
"Provincial Government" in the case of a Province;] 
 
2[(dd) "flick-knife" means a knife which has a blade which opens automatically by hand 
pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in, or attached to, the handle of 
the knife, and includes any knife which has a blade which is released from the 
handle or sheath thereof by the force of gravity or by the application of centrifugal 
force and which , when released, is locked in place by means of a button, spring 
lever or other device ;] 
 
(e) "licence" means a licence granted under this Ordinance; 
 
(f) "military stores" means any stores which the 3[Federal Government] may, by 
notification in the official Gazette, declare to be military stores; 
 
(g) "rules" mean rules made under this Ordinance. 
(2) Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, declare any article or substance not 
specified in clause (a) or cl ause (b) or clause (c) of sub -section (1), to be , as the case may be, 
ammunition, arms or cannon for the purposes of this Ordinance, and on the publication of such 
notification, such article or substance shall be deemed to be specified in the said clause ( a) or clause (b) 
or clause (c), as may be notified. 
 
 
1Subs. by Act XXXVIII of 1974. 
2Ins. by W.P. Ord. XI of 1969. 
3Subs. by Act XXXVIII of 1974, for “Central Government”.  
 
 
CHAPTER II 
SALE AND REPAIR 
4. Unlicensed sale and repair prohibited: __ (1) No person shall sell or keep, offer or 
expose for sale, an y arms, ammunition, or military stores, or undertake the repairs of any arms, except 
under a licence and in the manner and to the extent permitted thereby. 
 
 
(2) Nothin g herein contained shall prevent any person from selling any arms or ammunition 
which he lawfully possesses for his own private use to any person who is not by any enactment for the 
time being in force prohibited from possessing the same, but every person so selling arms or 
ammunition to any person shall, without unnecessary delay, give to the Magistrate of the district or to 
the officer incharge of the nearest police station , notice of the sale and of the purchaser's name and 
address. 
 
CHAPTER III 
TRANSPORT 
 
5. Power to prohibit transport: __ Government may, from time to time, by notification in 
the official Gazette, regulate or prohibit the transport of any description of arms, ammunition  or military 
stores over the whole of the Province or any part  thereof either altogether or except under a licence and 
to the extent and in the manner permitted by such licence. 
 
Explanation: Arms, ammunition or military stores transhipped at a port in the Province are 
transported within the meaning of this section. 
 
6. Power to establish searching posts: __ Government may, at any place along the 
boundary line between the Province and an Acceding State and at such distance within such line as it 
deems expedient, or at any place in the Province that it may deem proper e stablish searching posts at 
which any person, vessel, vehicle or any other type of transport or any type of package or container in 
transit, may be stopped and searched for arms, ammunition and military stores by any officer 
empowered by Government in this behalf by name or in virtue of his office. 
 
7. Arrest of persons conveying arms, etc., under suspicious circumstances: (1) When 
any person is found carrying or conveying any arms, ammunition  or military stores, whether covered by 
a licence or not,  in such manner or under such circumstances as to afford just grounds of suspicion that 
the same are being carried or conveyed by him with intent to  use them, or that the same may be used for 
any unlawful purpose, any person may without warrant apprehend him and take such arm s, ammunition 
or military stores from him. 
 
(2) Any person so apprehended, any arms ammunition or military stores so taken by a person 
not being a magistrate or a police officer, shall be delivered over as soon as possible to a police officer. 
 
(3) All persons apprehended by , or delivered to, a police officer and all arms, ammunition 
and military store s seized by or delivered to any such officer under th is section shall be taken without 
unnecessary delay before a magistrate. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CHAPTER IV 
GOING ARMED AND POSSESSING ARMS, ETC. 
8. Prohibition of going armed without licence: ___ (1) No person shall go armed  with any 
arms except under a licence and to the extent and in the manner permitted thereby. 
 
(2) Any person so going armed without a licence or in contravention of its provision maybe 
disarmed by any Magistrate, police officer or other person empowered by  Government in this behalf by 
name or by virtue of his office. 
 
(3) Nothing in sub-sections (1) and (2) shall apply to a person carrying arms , under a written 
authority issued in accordance with the rules. 
 
9. Unlicensed possession of arms , etc.:-- No person shall have in his possession or under 
his control any arms, or any ammunition or military stores, except under the license and in the manner 
and to the extent permitted thereby. 
10.  In certain cases arms to be deposited at police station or with licensed dealers:__ (1) 
Any person possessing arms, ammunition or military stores the possession whereof, has, in consequence 
of the cancellation or expiry of a licence or of an exemption or the death of the licensee or otherwise, 
become unlawful, shall wi thout unnecessary delay deposit the same either with the officer incharge of 
the nearest police station or, at his option and subject to such conditions as Government , may by rule 
prescribe, with a licensed dealer: 
provided that where, within one month of the expiry of a licence an application for its renewal 
has been made by registered post or by hand , the retention by the holder of such licence of the arms, 
ammunition or military stores covered by the licence shall be deemed to be lawful until such time a s the 
licence has been renewed or its renewal refused. 
 
 
(2) When arms, ammunition or military stores have been deposited under sub -section (1), the 
depositor, or in case of his demise, his legal heir, shall, at any time before the expiry of such period as  
Government may by rules prescribe, be entitled— 
 
(a) to receive back anything so deposited the possession of which by him or his legal 
heirs has become lawful; and 
 
(b) to dispose, or authorise the disposal, of anything so deposited by sale or otherwise 
to any person whose possession of the same would be lawful, and to receive the 
proceeds of any such sale: 
 
Provided that nothing in this sub -section shall be deemed to authorise the return or disposal of 
anything the confiscation of which has been directed under Section 1[20]. 
 
(3) All things deposited under sub-section (1) and not returned or disposed of under sub-
section (2) Within the prescribed period therein referred to, shall be forfeited to Government. 
 
(4) (a) Government may make rules consistent with this Ordinance for carrying into effect 
the provisions of this section. 
 
 
1Subs. by W.P. Ord. XI of 1969, for the figure “19”.  
 
 
 (b)  In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision , 
Government may by rules prescribe— 
(i) the conditions subject to which arms, ammunition or military stores may 
be deposited with a licensed dealer; and 
 
(ii) the period after the expiry of which things deposited as aforesaid shall be 
forfeited under sub- section (3). 
 
 
CHAPTER V  
LICENCES 
11. Power to make rules as to licences: Government may, from time to time, by notification in 
the Official Gazette, make rules to determine the officers  by whom, the form in which , and the terms 
and conditions on and subject to which any licence shall be g ranted, or renewed, and may by such rules 
among other matters— 
(a) fix the period for which such licences shall continue in force; 
 
(b) fix a fee payable by stamp or otherwise in respect of any such licence; 
 
(c) 1[* * * * * * *]; 
 
(d) direct that the holder of any such licence shall keep a record or account, in such 
form as Government may prescribe, of anything done under such licence, and 
exhibit such record on account when called upon to do so by an officer of 
Government authorized in this behalf ; 
 
(e) empower any officer of Government to enter and inspect any premises in which 
arms, ammunition or military stores are kept by any person holding a licence of 
the description referred to in section 4 ; 
 
(f) direct that any such person shall exhibit the e ntire stock of arms, ammunition and 
military stores in his possession or under his control to any officer of Government 
so empowered ; and 
 
(g) require the person holding any licence or acting under any licence to produce the 
same and to produce or account  for the arms , ammunition or military stores 
covered by the same when called upon to do so by an officer of Government so  
empowered. 
2[(11–A). Power of the Federal Government: (1) The Federal Government may , by 
notification in the official Gazette, specify the description, caliber or bore of arms and ammunition 
which are to be prohibited bores for the purpose of this Ordinance. 
 
(2) No licence for the arms and ammunition notified under sub -section (1) shall b e issued 
except by the Federal Government. 
 
 
1Del. By Act XXXVIII of 1974. 
2Add. ibid. 
 
 
 
 
(3) The Federal Government shall have the power to issue licences for non -prohibited bore 
weapons valid for the whole or any part of Pakistan. 
 
(4) The Provincial Government shall have the power to issue licences for non -prohibited 
weapons only which power shall be exercised by the said Government subject to Section 11. 
 
2[(5)  The Federal Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, delegate any of its 
powers under this Ordinance to be exercised by any authority or officer sub -ordinate to it, subject to 
such extent, limitations and conditions as are specified in the notification. 
(6)  All prohibited bore and non-prohibited bore arms licenses issued, cancelled, suspended or 
modified, actions done, powers exercised, appointments made, persons authorized, agreements made , 
perior to commencement of the Pakistan Arms (Amendment) Act, 2021, shall be deemed to have validly 
been issued, cancelled, suspended, modi fied, done, exercised , made and authorized under this 
Ordinance.] 
1[11-B. Prohibition of keeping, carrying, or displaying arms: (1) The Federal Government 
may, and if so directed by the Federal Government, the Provincial Government shall, by general or 
special order, prohibit the keeping, carrying or display of arms at such places or times or on such 
occasions as may be specified in the order. 
 
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of sub -section (1), an order issued 
thereunder may prohibit— 
 
(a) the keeping of arms within the premises of educational institutions and the 
premises of  the hostels or boarding and lodging houses relating or affiliated 
thereto; and 
(b) the carrying or display of arms at fairs or in gatherings or processions of a 
political, religious, ceremonial or sectarian character or in the premises of Courts 
of law or public offices. 
 
(3) Any person keeping, carrying or displaying any arms in contravention of an order issued 
under sub-section (1) may be disarm ed by the Magistrate,  police officer or other person empowered by 
Government in this behalf.] 
 
12. Cancellation and suspension of licences: (1) Any licence may be cancelled or  
suspended— 
 
 
1 added by Act No. LXXX of 1976. 
2 added by Act No. VII of 2021, s.2 (Extend to only ICT). 
 
 
(a) by the officer by whom the same was granted or by any authority to which he may 
be subordinate, or any District Magistrate within the local limits of whose 
jurisdiction the holder of such licence may be, when, for reasons to be recorded in 
writing, and after giving the holder of the licence an opportunity of showing cause 
against the proposed cancellation or suspension, such officer, authority or 
Magistrate deems it necessary for the security of the public peace to cancel or 
suspend such licence ; or 
 
(b) by any Judge or Magistrate before whom the holder of such licence is convicted 
of an offence against this Ordinance or against the rules  and Government may, by 
a notification in the official Gazett e, cancel or suspend all or any licences 
throughout the Province or any part thereof. 
 
(2) An appeal against an order of cancellation or suspension under clause (a) of sub -section (1) 
may be made by the person whose licence has been cancelled or  suspended to the immediate official 
superior to the authority making the order, within sixty days of the receipt by him of a copy of the order 
where appeal lies to Government, and where appeal lies to any other authority, within thirty  days of the 
receipt by him of a copy of the order. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
PENALTIES 
 
13. Penalty for breach of Sections 4, 5, 8 to 11:  whoever commits any of the following 
offences, namely:-— 
(a) sells, or keeps, offers or exposes for sale, any arms, ammunition or military stores, 
or under takes the repairs of any arms in contravention  of the provisions of 
Section 4 ; 
 
(b) fails to give notice of the sale of arms and ammunition and of the purchaser's 
name and address as required by Section 4 ; 
 
(c) transports any arms, ammunition or military stores in contravention of a 
regulation or prohibition issued under Section 5 ; 
 
(d) goes armed in contravention of the provisions section 8; 
 
(e) has in his possession or under his control any arms, ammunition or military stores 
in contravention of the provisions of section 9; 
 
(f) fails to deposit arms, ammunition or military stores as required by section 10; 
 
(g) intentionally makes any false entry in a record of account which by a rule made 
under clause (d) of section 11 he is required to keep; 1[*] 
(h) intentionally fails to exhibits anything which by a rule made under clause ( f)  of 
section 11 he is required to exhibit; 2[or] 
 
 
1The word “or” del. By Act No. LXXX of 1976  . 
2Add. ibid.  
 
 
1[(i) keeps, carries or displays any arms in contravention of an order issued under 
section 11-B; ] 
shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2[seven years], or with fine, or with 
both: 
3[Provided that the punishment for an offence committed in respect of any  
(a) cannon, grenade, bomb or rocket; or 
 
(b) light or heavy automatic weapon, rifle of 303 bore or over , musket 410 bore or 
over or  pistole or revolver of 441 bore or over, or ammunition which can be fired 
from such weapon, rifle, musket, pistol or revolver, 
 
shall be imprisonment for a term which is not less than three years.] 
14. Certain breaches of Sections 4, 5, 9 and 21: Whoever__ 
 
(a) 4[*  * * * * * *] 
 
(b) on any search being made under Section 21, conceals or attempts  to conceal any  
arms, ammunition or military stores, 
 
shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine , or with 
both : 
5[Provided that the punishment for an offence committed of any— 
 
(a) cannon, grenade, bomb or rocket; or 
 
(b) light or heavy automatic weapon, rifle of .303 bore or over , musket of .410 bore 
or over or  pistol or revolver of .441 bore or  over or  ammunition which can be 
fired from such weapon, rifle, musket, pistol or revolver, 
 
shall be imprisonment for a term which is not less than two years.] 
 
6[14-A Certain offences triable by Magistrates: (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in 
the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898), an offence , punishable under Section 13 or 
Section 14 shall , unless it has been committed in respect of any of the arms, ammunition or military 
stores referred to in the proviso to the said Section 13, be triable by a Magistrate of the First Class. 
(2) All cases rela ting to offences triable by a magistrate of the first class under sub-section (1) 
and pending in a Court of Sessions immediately before the commencement 7 of the Pakistan Arms 
(Amendment) Ordinance, 1976 (XXI of 1976), in which the charge had not been frame d shall, on such 
commencement, stand transferred to the Court of the magistrate of the first class having jurisdiction 
over such cases.] 
 
1Add. By Act No. LXXX of 1976  .  
2Sub. By Act No. LII of 1973, for “three years”.  
3The original proviso which was omitted by W.P. Act XI of 1967 was re -inserted by Act No. LII of 1973.  
4Del. By Act No. LII of 1973. 
5Sub. By Act No. LXXX of 1976. 
6Add. by Act No. L of 1976. 
7It came into being w.e.f. 25 th May, 1976.  
 
 
15. Breach of licence: Whoever, in violation of a condition subject to which a licence has been 
granted, does or omits to do any act shall, when the doing or omitting to do such act is not punishable 
under Sec. 13 or Section 14, be punished with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees. 
16.  Knowingly purchasing arms, etc., from unlicensed persons: Whoever:- 
 
(a) knowingly purchases any arms, ammunition or military stores from any person 
not licenced or authorized under sub-section (2) of section 4 to sell the same; or 
 
(b) delivers any arms, ammunition or military stores into the possession of any person 
without previously ascertaining that such person is legally authorized to possess 
the same, 
 
Shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine , or with 
both: 
 
1[Provided that the punishment for an offence committed in respect of any – 
 
(a) canon, grenade, bomb or rocket; or 
 
(b) light or heavy automatic weapon, rifle of .303 bore or over, musket of .410 bore 
or over a pistol or revolver of .441 bore or over, or ammunition which can be fired 
from such weapon, rifle, musket, pistol or revolver, 
 
Shall be imprisonment for a term which is not less than one year.] 
 
17. Penalty for breach of rules: Any person violating any provision of any rule made under 
this Ordinance for the violation of which no penalty is provided by this Ordinance, shall be punished 
with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees. 
 
18. Penalty for failure to give information under Section 23: Any person who in the 
absence of reasonab le excuse, the burden of proving which shall lie upon such person, fails to give 
information to the nearest police officer or magistrate in respect of any offence under sub-section (1) or 
sub-section (2) of section 23 of which he becomes aware or which he has reason to suspect, shall be 
punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may 
extend to Rs. 500 or with both. 
 
19. Penalty for refusing or neglecting to produce arms: Any person refusing or neglecting 
to produce any arms when so required under section 26 shall be punished with imprisonment for a term 
which may extend to one month or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both. 
 
 
1Sub. By Act No. LXXX of 1976. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
20. Power to confiscate: When any person is convicted of any offence punishable under this 
Ordinance, committed by him in respect of any arms, ammunition or military stores, it shall be in the 
discretion of the committing Court or magistrate further to direct that the whole or any portion of such 
arms, ammunition or military stores , and any vessel, vehicle or any other type of transport used to 
convey the same, and any type of package or container in which the same may have been concealed, 
together with the other contents of such package or container shall be confiscated : 
 
Provided that where such conviction is in respect of an offence punishable under this Ordinance 
with imprisonment for not less than twelve months, the Court or the magistrate convicting such person 
shall direct that the whole or any portion of such arms, ammunition or military stores shall be 
confiscated. 
CHAPTER VII  
MISCELLANEOUS 
 
21. Search and seizure by magistrate: Whenever any magistrate or an officer incharge of a 
police station has reason to believe that any person residing within the local limits of his jurisdiction- 
 
(a) has in his possession any arms, ammunition or military stores for any unlawful 
purpose ; or 
 
(b) that such person cannot be left in the possessi on of any such arms, ammunition or 
military stores without danger to the public peace; 
 
such magistrate or such police officer having first recorded the grounds of his be lief, may cause a 
search to be made of the house or premises occupied by such person o r in which such magistrate or 
such police officer has reason to believe such arms, ammunition or military stores are or is to be found, 
and may seize and detain the same, although covered by licence or exemption, in safe custody for such 
time as he thinks necessary. 
 
22. Seizure end detention by Government: Government may at any time order or cause to  
be seized any arms, ammunition or military stores in the possession of any person, notwithstanding that 
such person is lawfully entitled to possess the same, and may detain the same for such time as it thinks 
necessary for the public safety. 
 
23. Information be given regarding offences: (1) Every person aware of the commission of 
any offence punishable under this Ordinance shall in the absence or reasonable exc use, the burden of 
proving which shall lie upon such person, give information of the same to the nearest police officer or 
magistrate. 
 
(2) Every person employed upon any railway or by any public carrier shall, in the absence of 
reasonable excuse, the burd en of proving which shall lie upon such person, give information to the 
nearest police officer or magistrate regarding any package or container in transit which he may have 
reason to suspect contains arms, ammunition or military stores in respect of which an offence against 
this Ordinance has been or is being committed. 
 
 
 
24. Searches in the case of offences how conducted: When a search is to be made for any 
of the purposes of this Ordinance, such search shall be made under the provisions of the Code of 
Criminal Procedure 1898 (Act V of 1898). 
 
25. Operation of other laws not barred: Nothing in this Ordinance shall be deemed to 
prevent any person from being prosecuted under any other law for any act or omission which constitutes 
an offence against this Ordinance or the rules or from being liable under such other law to any higher 
punishment or penalty than that provided by this Ordinance: 
 
Provided that no person shall be punished twice for the same offence. 
 
26. Power to take census of arms: ___(1) Government may, from time to time, by 
notification in the official Gazette, direct a census to be taken of any arms in any area, and empower any 
person by name or in virtue of his office or take such census. 
 
(2) On the issue of any such notification, all persons possessing any such arms in such area shall 
furnish to the person so empowered such information as he may require in reference thereto, and shall 
produce such arms to him if he so requires. 
 
27. Power to exempt: 1[Federal Government] may, from time to time, by notification in the 
official Gazette, or in exceptional circumstances by a written order, exempt any person by name or in 
virtue of his office, or any class of persons, or exclude any description of arms, ammunition or  military 
stores, or withdraw any part of the Province from the operation of any prohibition or direction contained 
in this Ordinance. 
 
28. Notice and limitation of proceedings: No suit, prosecution or other proceeding shall lie 
against any person for anything which is in good fai th done or intended to be done in pursuance  of this 
Ordinance. 
 
29. Repeal: The Arms Act 1878 (XI of 1878), as in force in the Province of West Pakistan, 
together with all enactments amending or modifying the same, except the provisions thereof relating to  
manufacture (including conversion), export or import of arms, ammunition and military stores, is hereby  
repealed. 
 
 
1Subs. by Act No. XXXVIII of 1975, for “Government”.  
 
_______