Anti Narcotics Force Act (ANF 1997)

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  THE ANTI NARCOTICS FORCE ACT, 1997 
 
 
 
CONTENTS 
1.  Short title and commencement 
2.  Definitions 
3.  Constitution of the Force 
4.  Superintendence and administration of the Force 
5.  Functions of the Force 
6.  Power of the members of the Force 
7.  Wearing of Uniform 
8.  Punishment 
9.  Grounds of punishment 
10. Authority to award punishment 
11.  Terms of Service 
12.  Conduct and Discipline 
13.  Members to serve anywhere 
14.  Members as public prosecutors 
15.  Delegation of powers 
16.  Indemnity 
17.  Power to make rules 
SCHEDULE 
 

 
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THE ANTI NARCOTICS FORCE ACT, 1997 
 
ACT NO. III OF 1997 
     [12th April, 1997] 
  
An Act to provide for the constitution of Anti Narcotics Force 
 
 WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the constitution of a Force for the purpose of inquiring 
into, and investigating offences relating to narcotics and Narcotics Trafficking, and for matters connected 
therewith or incidental thereto; 
 
 It is hereby enacted as follow: 
 
  1. Short title and commencement. —(1) This Act may be called the Anti Narcotics Force Act, 
1997. 
  (2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan.  
  (3) It shall come into force at once. 
 
  2. Definitions.—In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,— 
 
(a)  “Code” means the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898); 
 
(b)   “Director-General” means the Director General of the Force; 
 
(c)  “Force” means the Anti Narcotics Force constituted under section 3; 
 
(d)  “narcotics” includes narcotic drugs, psychotropic subst ances and controlled 
substances as d efined in the Cont rol of Narcotic Substances Ordinance, 1996 
(XCIV of 1996); 
 
(e) “police” means a police-force constituted by the Federal Government  or 
Provincial Government under the Police Act, 1861 (V of 1861); 
 
(f)    “prescribed” means prescribed by rules under this Act; and 
 
(g) “rules” means rules made under this Act.  
   
 (2) The  words and expressions used but not defined herein shall have the  same  
meaning as assigned to them in the Control of Narcotic Substances Ordinance, 1996 (XCIV of 1996). 
 
3. Constitution  of the Force. —(1) Notwith standing anything contained in any other  
law for the time being in force, the Federal Government may constitute a Force  to  be  called the Anti -
Narcotics Force. 
 
 
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(2) The Force shall consist of a Director-General to be appointed by the Federal Government 
and such number of other officials as the Federal Government may, from time to tim e, appoint to be 
members of the Force. 
 
 (3) On  commencement  of this  Act, the  Pakistan  Narcotics  Control Board constituted under 
the Government of Pakistan, Planning Division ’s R esolution, dated the 8 th M arch, 1973, and Ant i-
Narcotics Task Force constituted under the Anti-Narcotics Task Force Ordinance, 1994 (LXXVI of 
1994), shall stand merged and all personnels, including officers, ministerial staff and the contingent staff 
of the said Board and Task Force shall, subject to the provisions of section 11 become members of the 
Force and be governed in accordance with this Ordinance and the rules made thereunder. 
 
 (4)  The  Force  shall  for  all  intents  and  purposes  be  successor  of Pakistan Narcotics Control 
Board and Anti-Narcotics Task Force in respect of all cases, inquiries, investigation, assets, liabilities, 
rights, obligations and privileges and matters related thereto or connected therewith. 
 
 (5) Notwithstanding anything contained in the General Clauses Act, 1897  (IV of 1897), 
anything done or action taken before the commencement of this Acts, under the Anti-Narcotics Task 
Force Ordinance, 1994 (LXXVI of 1994), or otherwise by the Pakistan Narcotics Control Board in so 
far it is not inconsistant with the provisions of this Act shall be deemed to have been done or taken 
under this Act.         
 
  4.  Superintendence and administration of the Force.—(1) The superintendence of the Force 
shall vest in the Federal Government.  
 
 (2) The Administ ration of the Force shall vest in the Director-General who sh all exercise   in 
respect of the Force all powers of an Inspector-General of Police under the Police Act, 1861 (V of 1861); 
and all other powers under the Act. 
 
 (3) In case of any officers and members from the Armed Forces, the Director-General shall have 
all powers conferred by or under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952 (XXXIX of 1952), the Pakistan Air Force 
Act, 1953 (VI of 1953), and the Pakistan Navy Ordinance, 1961 (XXXVI of 1961), respectively as an 
officer empowered to convene a General Court Martial: 
 
 Provided  that  such  powers  shall  be  exercised  only  by  the  Director-General who is in  
the regular service of any of the Armed Forces.  
 
5. Functions of the Force.—The Force shall 
 
(a)  inquire into, investigate and prosecute all offences relating to,  or  connected  with,  
preparation,  production, m anufacture, transportation, illicit trafficking or  
smuggling of intoxicants, narcotics and chemical precursors or reagents  used  in  
the  manufacture  of  narcotics, or any offence committed in the course of the same 
transaction und er any l aw for the time being in force, including an attempt or 
conspiracy to  commit, or any abetment of, any su ch offence, or any offence 
committed under the Control of Narcotics Substances Ordinance, 1996 (XCIV 
of 1996), or the Prohibition  (Enforcement of Hadd)  Order,  1979 (P.O.4 of 1979). 
 
 
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(b)  trace and freeze the assets; 
 
(c)  provide assistance and advice to other enforcement agencies on all matters in  the 
field of n arcotics and to collect information from all national and int ernational 
enforcement agencies about illicit narcotic traffic and traffickers; 
 
(d)  maintain liaison with all national or international narcotics authorities, 
organisations, bodies, associations and societies and represent Pakistan in su ch 
conferences, seminars and wo rkshops arranged by any su ch organization on 
narcotics related matters; 
 
(e)  arrange and co-ordinate training of own staff and members of other enforcement 
agencies in various aspects of narcotics enforcement; 
 
(f)  co-ordinate the project and schemes for elimination and d estruction of poppy 
cultivation; and 
 
(g)  perform any other related functions which may be assigned to it  by the Federal 
Government. 
 
 6. Power of the members of the Force.—(1) The members of the Force shall, for the purpose of any 
inquiry or investigation under this Act, have throughout Pakistan such powers, including the powers relating 
to search, arrest of persons and seizures of property, and such duties, privileges and liabilities as a police -
officer has in respect of offences under the Code or any other law for the time being in force.  
 
 (2) Save when the Director-General otherwise direct, a member of the Force, not below the rank of 
an Inspector may, for the purpose of any inquiry or investigation under this Act, exercise all the powers of 
an officer-in-charge of a police-station in any area in which he is for the time being and, when so exercising 
such powers, shall be deemed to be the officer-in-charge of a police-station discharging his functions as such 
within the limits of his station. 
 
 (3) Without prejudice to the generality of te provisions of sub-section (1) and sub-section  (2),  any 
member  of the  Force  not  below  the  rank  of Inspector,  authorized  by  the  Director-General  in  this  
behalf,  may  arrest without  warrant  any  person  who  has  committed or against  whom  a reasonable 
suspicion exists that he has committed any of the offences relating to narcotics referred to in clause (a) of 
section 5. 
  
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, a member of 
the Force not below the rank of Inspector authorised by the Director-General, may inquire, investigate and 
trace the assets of a person who has committed an offence referred to in clause (a) of section 5 or when in 
his opinion, there is a reasonable suspicion that the said assets were acquired through illicit involvement 
in narcotics; and may, for this purpose, require a bank or other financial institution or departments, whether 
under the control of Government or otherwise to furnish such information as he may specify. 
 
 (5) If in the opinion of a member of the Force, conducting an inquiry investigating or tracing any 
assets under sub-section (4), which is likely to be removed, transferred or otherwise disposed of, such 
member may, notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, by order 
in writing direct the owner or any person who is for the time being in possession thereof, not to remove, 
 
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transfer, or otherwise dispose of such property in any manner except with the previous permission of that 
member and such order shall be subject to any order made by the Court having jurisdiction in the 
matter. 
 
 (6) any contravention of any order made under sub-section (4) or (5) shall be punishable with 
rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both. 
 
 (7) Any member of the Force may, in performance of its functions and exercise of powers as 
may be prescribed, seek assistance from all officers of police, customs, excise, Federal Investigation 
Agency or any other investigation agency or authority or civil armed forces. 
 
 (8) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the Federal 
Government may, in respect of any case registered by, or under investigation of, police, customs, excise, 
Federal Investigation Agency or any other investigation agency or authority, by order in writing, entrust 
inquiry or such investigation to the Force, and thereupon the police, customs, excise, Federal Investigation 
Agency or any other investigation agency or authority shall transfer the record of the case to the Force. 
 
 (9) The Force may, in accordance with the law, establish as many police-stations as are required 
for the efficient functioning of the Force and all police-stations of Anti-Narcotics Task Force and Pakistan 
Narcotics Control Board shall be deemed to be the police stations of the Force. 
 
 Explanation,—For the purpose of this Act, the expression “police station” means and includes any 
place declared as such, by the Federal Government or a Provincial Government to be a police station 
within the meaning of the Code. 
 
 7. Wearing of Uniform.—All members, excluding ministerial staff of the Force, employed on 
enforcement duties shall wear such uniform as may be prescribed. 
 
 8. Punishment.—(1) The following minor and major punishments shall be awarded to the officers 
and members of staff of the Force, namely:—   
(a)       Minor Punishments: 
 
(i)  Censure; 
  
(ii)  forfeiture of approved service upto two years; 
(iii)  withholding of promotion upto one year; 
(iv) stoppage of increment  for  a period  not  exceeding three  years without 
cumulative effect; 
 
(v)  fine to any amount not exceeding one month’s pay; 
  
(vi)  confinement to quarters for a term not exceeding fifteen d ays, with or  
without punishment, drill, extra guard, fatigue or other duty; and 
 
(vii)  extra drill not exceeding fifteen days, fatigue or other duties. 
 
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(b)       Major Punishments: 
 
(i)  Reduction in rank; 
 
(ii)  compulsory retirement; 
 
(iii)  removal from service; and 
 
(iv)  dismissal from service. 
 
 (2) Removal from service does not, but dismissal from service does, disqualify for future 
employment. 
 
 (3) In this section, removal or dismissal from service does not include the discharge of person— 
 
(a)  appointed on probation, during the  period of probation, or in accordance with 
probation or training rules applicable to him; or 
 
(b)  appointed, otherwise than under a contract, to hold a temporary appointment on 
the expiration of the period of appointment; or 
 
(c)  engaged under a contract, in accordance with the terms of the contract. 
 
 9. Grounds of punishment.—Where, a member, in the opinion of the Authority:— 
 
  (a)  is inefficient or has ceased to be efficient; or 
 
  (b)  is guilty of misconduct; or 
 
  (c)  is corrupt or may reasonably be considered corrupt because— 
 
(i)   he is, or  any of his d ependents or any other person claiming 
 through him, or on his behalf is, in possession (for which he cannot 
 reasonably account) of pecuniary resources or any p roperty 
 disproportionate to his known sources of income; or 
 
(ii)  he has assumed a style of living beyond his ostensible  means; or 
 
(iii)  he has a reputation of being corrupt; or 
 
(d)  he is engaged, or is reasonably suspected of b eing engaged in subv ersive or 
narcotics activities, or is reasonably suspected of being associated with those 
engaged in subversive or narcotics activities or is guilty of disclosure of official 
secrets to any un authorised person, and his  retention in s ervice is,  therefore, 
prejudicial to national security and interest of State,  
the authority may impose on him one or more punishments specified in sub-section (1) of section 8. 
 
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 10.  Authority to award punishment.—The authorities to award punishment under section 8 
are specified in the Schedule to this Act. 
 
 11. Terms of Service.—(1) All personnels upto the rank of Inspector and their equivalent in the 
ministerial staff of the Force may elect to be governed by the existing terms of service applicable to them 
and such option shall be sent to the Director-General, of the Force within such period as may be decided 
by the Director-General failing which they shall be deemed to have opted to serve under this Act.  
 
(2) The personnels not opting to  serve in accordance with the terms of this  Act may, at the 
discretion, of the D irector-General, be placed at the dispos al of Federal Government for adjustment 
elsewhere. 
 
 12. Conduct and Discipline.—(1) The police Act, 1861 (V of 1861), the Police Rules, 1934, and 
the Punjab Police (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 1975, shall, mutatis mutandis, be applicable to all 
members upto the rank of an Inspector, if not inconsistent with the provisions of thi s Act or where 
operation of any provision thereof is excluded by the Director -General by a specific order made in this 
behalf. 
 
 (2) Subject to subsection (1), all members of the Force including the ministerial staff except those 
on deputation from the armed forces shall be governed by the Civil Servants Act, 1973 (LXXI of 1973), 
and rules made thereunder. 
 
 13. Members to serve anywhere.—Every member of the Force shall be deemed to be always 
on duty and be liable to serve anywhere within or without Pakistan. 
 
 14. Members as public prosecutors.—Notwithstanding anything contained in th e Code, all  
Directors,  Deputy  Directors  and  Assistant Directors of the Force, shall be ex-officio public prosecutors 
in respect of all offences relating to narcotic and specified in clause (a) of section 5, for trial before  the  
Special Cou rt or any oth er cou rt wh en so di rected by the Di rector-General and may conduct the 
proceedings in the said Court and deal with any matter connected therewith or ancillary thereto. 
 
 15. Delegation of powers.—The Director-General may, by order in writing, direct that all or any 
of his powers under this Act or the rules shall, subject  to  such  conditions,  if  any,  as  may  be  specified  
in  the  order,  be exercisable by any member of the Force. 
 
 16. Indemnity.—No suit, prosecution, or oth er proceedings shall lie against the Federal 
Government, Provincial Government, Director-General or any member of the Force or any other person 
exercising any power or performing any function under this Act or the rules made thereunder for anything 
which is done is good faith or intended to be done under this Act or the rules. 
  
 17. Power to make rules. —(1) The Federal Government may, by notification in the Official 
Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.  
 
 (2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may 
provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:— 
 
(a)   the terms and conditions of service of the Director-General and oth er 
 members of the Force and the qualifications for recruitment to various posts; 
 
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(b)   the  powers  and  functions  of  the  members  of  the  Force  in relation to the 
 conduct of inquiries and investigations; and 
 
(c)  the manner in which rewards may be given to the members of the  Force  or to 
the public for rendering commendable service.  
 
SCHEDULE 
(Section 9) 
Authorities to Award Punishment  
____________________________________________ ___________________________  
 
S. No. Punishment Inspector or 
equivalent 
grade 
Sub-Inspector/ 
Assistant Sub-
Inspector or 
equivalent or a 
grade between 
ASI/ Head-
Constable 
Head 
Constable or 
equivalent 
grade or a 
grade 
between 
Head 
Constable 
and 
Constable 
Constable 
or 
equivalen
t or 
Lower 
grade 
________________________________________________________________________ 
 
1. 
 
Extra Drill 
not exceeding 
15 days 
Fatigue or  
other duties.  
   
Dy. Director  
 
Asstt. 
Director 
 
2. Confinement 
to quarters 
upto 15 days.   
  Dy. Director  Asstt. 
Director 
3. Censure. Director  Director Dy. Director  Asstt. 
Director 
4. Forfeiture of 
approved 
service upto 2 
years. 
Director  Director  Dy. Director  Asstt. 
Director 
 
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5. Stoppage of 
increments 
not exceeding 
3 years. 
Director  Director  Dy. Director  Asstt. Director 
6. Fine to any 
amount not 
exceeding one 
month’s pay. 
 
Director  Director  Dy. Director  Asstt. Director 
7. Withholding 
of promotion 
for one year 
or less. 
 
Director  Director  Dy. Director  Asstt. Director 
8. Reduction 
from 
substantive 
rank to a 
lower rank 
reduction in 
pay. 
 
Director Director Dy. Director  Asstt. Director  
9. Dismissal, 
removal from 
service, 
compulsory 
retirement. 
 
Director 
General 
Director 
General  
 
 
 
 
Director   Director  
____________________________________________________________________________________ 
                                             Explanatory Note.—      The punishments as mentioned in the Punishment Table may also be 
inflicted on members of the various ranks shown in the heading Nos. 
3 to 6 by an officer of higher rank.  
                                          ___________ 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
92804      RGN Date: 13-01-2025