West Pakistan and Control of Loudspeakers sound Amplifiers, 1965

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THE WEST PAKISTAN REGULATION AND CONTROL OF LOUD 
SPEAKERS AND SOUND AMPLIFIERS ORDINANCE, 1965  
 
(WEST PAKISTAN ORDINANCE NO. II OF 1965) 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                  CONTENTS 
 
SECTIONS 
 
1. Short title, extent and commencement. 
2. Restriction on the use of loudspeakers, etc. 
3. Punishment. 
4. Power of seizure. 
5. Offences to be cognizable. 
6. Court. 
7. Confiscation. 
8. Repeal. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Updated till 3.8.2022
 
 
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THE WEST PAKISTAN REGULATION AND CONTROL OF LOUD 
SPEAKERS AND SOUND AMPLIFIERS ORDINANCE, 1965. 
 
(WEST PAKISTAN ORDINANCE NO. II OF 1965.) 
 
[2nd March, 1965.] 
AN ORDINANCE 
 
to regulate and control the use of loudspeakers and sound 
amplifiers                       in the Province of West Pakistan. 
 
 WHEREAS it is expedient, for the purposes of preventing public nuisance and the voicing 
of utterances of a controversial nature likely to cause public disorder, to regulate, control and prohibit 
in the interest of public order,  decency and for the prevention of incitement to the commission of 
any offence the use of loudspeakers and sound amplifiers in the Province of West Pakistan; 
 
  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: — 
 
1. Short title, extent and commencement. (1) This Ordinance may be called the West 
Pakistan Regulation and  Control of Loudspeakers and Sound Amplifiers Ordinance, 1965. 
 
(2) It shall extend to the whole of the Province of West Pakistan, except the Tribal Areas. 
 
(3) It shall come into force at once. 
 
 2. Restriction on the use of lo udspeakers, etc. (1)  No person shall operate or use or cause 
to be operated or used a loudspeaker or a sound amplifier:— 
 
(a)  in a public place, in a manner so as to cause or to be likely to cause annoyance 
or injury to persons residing in any residential locality; or 
 
(b) in any place in the proximity of— 
 
(i) a place of worship during prayer times, 
 
(ii) a hospital providing facilities for indoor patients at any time of the day 
or night. 
 
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This Ordinance was approved by the West Pakistan Provincial Assembly under Article 79 (3) of the Constitution at its meeting held on 14th 
June 1965, see Gazette of West Pakistan 1965, Extraordinary P. 2799-2801. 
 
 
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(iii) an educational institution, a Court, a hospital not providing facilities for 
indoor patients or any other public institution, office or undertaking 
during their usual working hours at a volume or in a manner whereby 
the working or the use of such place of worship, hospital, educational 
institution, court, or other public institution, office or undertaking is 
likely to be disturbed by the use or operation of such loudspeaker or 
sound amplifier; or 
 
 
(c)  in a mosque, church, temple or other place of worship in a manner or at a volume 
whereby any sound from such loudspeaker or sound amplifier could be heard 
outside the immediate precincts of such mosque church, temple or other place 
of worship; or 
 
(d) in any public or private place, for the voicing of any sectarian or other utterances 
of a controversial nature likely to lead to public disorder, if such utterances are 
or can be heard outside or beyond the immediate limits or precincts of such 
place. 
 
(2) Nothing in th is section shall be applicable to the use of loudspeaker s or sound amplifiers 
for the purposes of Azan, prayers, or of Khutba delivered on Fridays or at the time of Eid prayers in a 
moderate tone. 
 
Explanation.— For the purposes of this section, a ’’public place” means a public street, a public 
thoroughfare, a public park or playground, or any other place to which the members of the public have 
access with or without invitation. 
 
3. Punishment. Whoever contravenes the provisions of section 2, shall in addition to any other 
penalty to which he may be liable under any other law for the time being in force , be punished with 
simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to 1[one year], or with fine, which may extend  to 
1[up to fifty thousand] rupees, or with both. 
 
4. Power of seizure. (1) Any police officer not below the rank of Sub-Inspector may seize and 
take possession of any loudspeaker or sound amplifier used or reasonably suspected to have been used 
in the commission of an offence under this Ordinance. 
 
(2) Any loudspeaker or sound amplifier seized or taken possession of under the provisions of 
this section shall, as soon as may be, be produced before the Court having jurisdiction to try offences 
under this Ordinance. 
 
5. Offences to be cognizable.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Code 
of Criminal Procedure, 1898  (v of 1898), or in any other law for the time being in force, an offence 
under this Ordinance shall be cognizable within the meaning of the said Code. 
 
6. Court. No Court inferior to that of a Magistrate of the First Class shall try  any offence 
punishable under the Ordinance. 
 
 
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1Subs by The West Pakistan Regulation and control Loudspeakers and Sound Amplifier (Amendment) Act, 2011 (Act No. iv of 
2011), s.2 (only to the extent of ICT) 
 
 
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7.  Confiscation. A Court trying an offence under this Ordinance may order the confiscation 
of any loudspeaker or sound amplifier or apparatus used in the commission of an offence under this 
Ordinance. 
 
 
8.  Repeal. The West Pakistan Regulation of Loudspeakers and Sound Amplifiers Ordinance. 
1964 (W.P. Ord. XIII of 1964) is hereby repealed. 
 
 
 
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