{ "schema_version": "qanun-law-text/1", "id": "punjab-code-ef46dfc68a7ac14d", "title": "SURRENDER OF ILLICIT ARMS ACT, 1991", "source_collection": "Punjab", "content_kind": "stored_law_text", "content_extent": null, "source_url": "https://punjabcode.punjab.gov.pk/en/show_article/ATRTYAI3VmU-", "version": null, "source_snapshot": "2026-08-06T17:03:21Z", "legal_status": "not independently verified", "text_quality": "Complete stored UTF-8 TXT file recovered byte-for-byte from owned Drive. Source transcription retained verbatim; legal completeness, OCR accuracy and current consolidation unverified.", "text_sha256": "4a729a48e194637ea01604419f237f8ce74d8e9bd3ce6231d41a0ff1a69f6741", "source_sha256": "4a729a48e194637ea01604419f237f8ce74d8e9bd3ce6231d41a0ff1a69f6741", "text_version_id": "law:punjab-code-ef46dfc68a7ac14d:sha256:4a729a48e194637ea01604419f237f8ce74d8e9bd3ce6231d41a0ff1a69f6741", "quality_flags": [], "encoding": "UTF-8", "text": "THE SURRENDER OF ILLICIT ARMS ACT, 1991 \r\n(XXI of 1991) \r\nCONTENTS \r\n1. Short title, extent and commencement \r\n2. Definitions \r\n3. Act not to derogate from other laws \r\n4. Surrender of illicit arms \r\n5. Surrender of arms, etc., by persons on visit abroad \r\n6. Publicity for surrender of illicit arms \r\n7. Punishments \r\n8. Indemnity \r\n9. Search for illicit arms, etc \r\n10. Reward for successful recovery \r\n11. Scrutiny of licenses, etc \r\n12. Punishment for failure to present license for scrutiny \r\n13. Exemption \r\n14. Rules \r\n15. Removal of difficulties \r\nTEXT \r\nTHE SURRENDER OF ILLICIT ARMS ACT, 1991 \r\n(XXI of 1991) \r\n[2nd December, 1991] \r\nAn \r\nAct \r\nto provide for the surrender of illicit arms and improvement and control of the law and \r\norder situation \r\n WHEREAS it is expedient in the public interest to provid e for the surrender of \r\nillicit arms, improvement and control of law and order situation and for matters \r\nconnected therewith or incidental thereto; \r\n It is hereby enacted as follows:– \r\n1. Short title, extent and commencement .– (1) This Act may be called the \r\nSurrender of Illicit Arms Act, 1991. \r\n(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan. \r\n(3) It shall come into forc e in such areas and on such date as the Federal \r\nGovernment may, on recommendation of the respective Provincial Government, by \r\nnotification in the official Gazette appoint; and different dates may be so appointed in \r\nrespect of different areas. \r\n2. Definitions.– (1) In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject \r\nor context,– \r\n(a) “illicit arms” includes– \r\n(i) cannon as defined in the Pakista n Arms Ordinance, 1965, (W.P. \r\nordinance No. XX of 1965), excluding sub -machine guns and \r\ntheir silencers revolvers or pistols of over 46 inches bore; \r\n(ii) all types of explosive substances as defined in the Explosive \r\nSubstances Act, 1908 (VI of 1908), and t he Explosives Act, \r\n1884 (IV of 1884), including mines of all types; \r\n(iii) all types of containers, grenades bombs and shell s that \r\ndischarge poisonous or noxious gases or other chemicals or \r\nsubstances which cause damage to human body; \r\n(iv) fire-arms compris ing automatic weapons (other than machine \r\nguns) including sub-machine guns, automatic rifles and machine \r\npistols; and \r\n(v) rifles carbines muskets, shotguns, revolvers, pistols and \r\nappliances the object to which is the silencing of fire -arms and \r\nall other fire-arms not included in sub-clause (iv), \r\nwhich are held or possessed in contravention of the provisions \r\nof the Arms Act, of 1878 (XI of 1878), the Explosives Act, 1884 \r\n(IV of 1884), the Explosive Substances Act, 1908 ( IV of 1908), \r\nthe Pakistan Arms Act, 1965 (W.P. Ordinance XX of 1965), or \r\nany other law for the time being in force; \r\n(b) “Prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act. \r\n(2) The Federal Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, \r\ndeclare any article, substance, arms , ammunition or military stores not , specified \r\nhereinbefore which is held or possessed in contravention of any law as illicit arms, \r\nammunition or explosives, for the purpose of this Act. \r\n3. Act not to derogate from other laws .– The provisions of this Act shall be in \r\naddition to, and not in derogation of , any other law for the time being in force, and \r\nnothing contained herein shall exempt any person from any proceedings which may \r\nbe instituted against him under such law. \r\n4. Surrender of illicit arms .– (1) \r\n1\r\n[On the commencement of the Act, a ll] \r\npersons in possession or control of any illicit arms shall surrender such arms within \r\n2\r\n[to the D istrict Coordination Officer, Deputy District Officer(Revenue) ] or officer -in-\r\ncharge of a police station within whose jurisdic tion such persons ordinarily reside or \r\nto such other authority as may be specified by the Federal Government by \r\nnotification in the official Gazette. \r\n(2) The authority receiving any illicit arms shall issue a receipt for the \r\nsame. \r\n5. Surrender of arms, etc ., by persons on visit abroad .– A person on a lawful \r\nvisit abroad at the commencement of this Act shall, within \r\n3\r\n[sixty days] of his return to \r\nPakistan, through an authorized route or port of entry, surrender and deposit and \r\ndeposit all illicit arms in his possession or control to one of the authorities specified in \r\nsection 4. \r\n6. Publicity for surrender of illicit arms .– (1) The Federal Government and the \r\nProvincial Government shall give wide publicity to the provisions of this Act on the \r\nmedia, including television, radio, national and regional press, in Urdu, English and \r\nregional languages or by any other mode as may be prescribed. \r\n(2) There shall be publicly displayed a count -down of every expired day of \r\nthe period allowed for surrender of illicit arms u nder this Act and the number of days \r\nleft for such surrender. \r\n7. Punishments.– (1) Whoever contravenes the provisions of section 4 or \r\nsection 5 or fails to surrender illicit arms shall, – \r\n(a) in respect of illicit arms defined in sub -clauses (i) to (iii) o f clause (a) of \r\nsection 2, be punished with imprisonment for life and forfeiture of \r\nproperty, both movable and immovable; \r\n \r\n1Substituted for the w ord “All” by Arms Law s (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001 (Ordinance LXVI OF 2001); and published in the \r\nGazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated 3.12.2001, see s.2 and Schedule, at entry No.3. \r\n2Substituted for the w ords “w ithin such time as is notified by the Federal Government to the Deputy Commissioner , Assistant \r\nCommissioner” by Arms Law s (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001 (Ordinance LXVI OF 2001) ; and published in the Gazette of \r\nPakistan (Extraordinary), dated 3.12.2001, see s.2 and Schedule, at entry No.3. \r\n3Substituted for the w ords “the time notified under section 4” by Arms Law s (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001 (Ordinance LXVI \r\nOF 2001); and published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated 3.12.2001, see s.2 and Schedule, at entry No.3. \r\n(b) in respect of illicit arms defined in sub -clause (iv) of clause (a) of \r\nsection 2, be punished with imprisonment for life or with imprisonment \r\nfor a term which shall not be less than ten years having regard to the \r\nantecedents of the accused; and \r\n(c) in respect of illicit arms defined in sub -clause (v) of clause (a) of \r\nsection 2, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may exte nd \r\nto fourteen years but shall not be less than three years, having regard \r\nto the antecedents of the accused. \r\n(2) Any illicit arms in respect of which a person is convicted and sentenced \r\nunder subsection (1) shall stand forfeited to the Federal Government. \r\n(3) Any conveyance used for the transportation of any illicit arms shall also \r\nbe liable to confiscation. \r\nExplanation.– In this section \"conveyance\" includes a vessel, aircraft, vehicle or \r\nanimal. \r\n8. Indemnity.– A person surrendering or deposing illicit ar ms under section 4 or \r\nsection 5 shall stand indemnified against any legal or penal action for having \r\npreviously possessed such illicit arms: \r\nProvided that any person who had committed any offence with such arms \r\nshall not be exempted from criminal liability for any such offence. \r\n9. Search for illicit arms, etc .– \r\n4\r\n[(1) The Federal Government may, from time to \r\ntime, launch campaign for recovery of illicit arms in a coordinated manner and the \r\nProvincial Governments and all other agencies of the State which may be called \r\nupon shall act in aid of the Federal Government and Provincial Governments.] \r\n(2) Search for illicit arms, ammunition or explosives shall be carried out, as \r\nnearly, as may be, in accordance with Chapter V of the Code of Criminal Procedure, \r\n1898 (Act V of 1898): \r\n Provided that, where in case of an extreme urgency a departure from the \r\nprovisions of the Code is made, the District Superintendent of Police or any other \r\nofficer authorizing the search shall record reasons for such departure. \r\n10. Reward f or successful recovery .– Any person providing information for \r\nsuccessful recovery of illicit arms may, in the prescribed manner, be appropriately \r\nrewarded by the Federal Government or, as the case may be, by the Provincial \r\nGovernment to whom such informati on is provided, keeping in view the number of \r\nillicit arms recovered on the basis of such information. \r\n11. Scrutiny of licenses, etc .– (1) Whenever the Federal Government or, if so \r\nrequired by it, the Provincial Government deems fit, it may, notwithstandin g anything \r\ncontained in this Pakistan Arms Ordinance, 1965 (W.P. Ordinance No. XX of 1965), \r\nthe Explosive Substances Act, 1908 (VI of 1908), the Explosives Act, 1884 (IV of \r\n \r\n4Substituted subsection “(1) On the expiry of the period for surrender of illicit arms allow ed under section 4, a campaign for the \r\nrecovery of illicit arms shall be launched in a coordinated manner by the Federal Government and the Provincial Governments \r\nand all other agencies of the State w hich maybe calle d upon shall act in aid of the F ederal government and Provincial \r\ngovernment.” by the Arms Law s (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001 (Ordinance LXVI OF 2001); and published in the Gazette of \r\nPakistan (Extraordinary), dated 3.12.2001, see s.2 and Schedule, at entry No.3. \r\n1884), the Arms Act, 1878 (XI of 1878), or any other law, by notification in the of ficial \r\nGazette, direct every person possessing or keeping in his control any arms, \r\nammunition or explosives under any license issued by any authority appointed under \r\nany law for the time being in force, to present such license to the authority specified \r\nin the notification, by the Federal Government or, as the case may be, the Provincial \r\nGovernment, for scrutiny. \r\n(2) Where, on scrutiny of a license, the authority referred to in sub -section \r\n(1) is satisfied that it was not in the public interest or conducive for maintenance of \r\nlaw and order or the public peace to allow retention of the license or any arms, \r\nammunition or explosives, it may, after providing an opportunity of being heard, \r\ncancel the license issued to a person to possess or keep any arms, ammunit ion or \r\nexplosives. \r\n(3) Where a license is cancelled under sub -section (2), the person \r\npossessing or keeping any arms, ammunition or explosives shall deposit such arms, \r\nammunition or explosives with the authority specified by the Federal Government. \r\n12. Punishment for failure to present license for scrutiny.– Whoever fails to \r\npresent his license for possessing or keeping any arms, ammunition or explosives as \r\nrequired under section 1 1 shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to \r\nten years but shall not be less than three years and confiscation of such arms, \r\nammunition or explosives. \r\n13. Exemption.– Nothing contained in this Act shall apply to a person who is \r\nexempt by virtue of the provisions of the Pakistan Arms Ordinance, 1965 (W.P. \r\nOrdinance No. XX of 1965), and the rules framed thereunder from holding a license \r\nfor possessing any arms and ammunition, including those of prohibited bore, by \r\nvirtue of his office or otherwise. \r\n14. Rules.– The Federal Government may make rules for carrying out the \r\npurposes of this Act. \r\n15. Removal of difficulties .– If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any \r\nprovision of this Act, the Federal Government may make such order or direction, not \r\ninconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as may appear to it to be ne cessary for \r\nthe purpose of removing such difficulty.", "passage_offset_convention": "zero-based Unicode code points and UTF8 bytes; end exclusive", "passages": [ { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-ef46dfc68a7ac14d:sha256:4a729a48e194637ea01604419f237f8ce74d8e9bd3ce6231d41a0ff1a69f6741:chars-0-1780:50549525e1bbcd80bbf6a1f3565d4402c3f906b8722d9fbe0a7740a225e784b1", "character_start": 0, "character_end": 1780, "utf8_byte_start": 0, "utf8_byte_end": 1794, "passage_sha256": "50549525e1bbcd80bbf6a1f3565d4402c3f906b8722d9fbe0a7740a225e784b1", "reader_fragment": "p-0-1780-50549525e1bbcd80" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-ef46dfc68a7ac14d:sha256:4a729a48e194637ea01604419f237f8ce74d8e9bd3ce6231d41a0ff1a69f6741:chars-1780-3526:303c9f9a64085454f5122c8dccb691f33ed000f9e861b2ced88803ed151f071d", "character_start": 1780, "character_end": 3526, "utf8_byte_start": 1794, "utf8_byte_end": 3548, "passage_sha256": "303c9f9a64085454f5122c8dccb691f33ed000f9e861b2ced88803ed151f071d", "reader_fragment": "p-1780-3526-303c9f9a64085454" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-ef46dfc68a7ac14d:sha256:4a729a48e194637ea01604419f237f8ce74d8e9bd3ce6231d41a0ff1a69f6741:chars-3526-5266:a47a7b8c48f69b12dd87c1b2accd11a378441617425fd5e8a384a69b8e3be068", "character_start": 3526, "character_end": 5266, "utf8_byte_start": 3548, "utf8_byte_end": 5296, "passage_sha256": "a47a7b8c48f69b12dd87c1b2accd11a378441617425fd5e8a384a69b8e3be068", "reader_fragment": "p-3526-5266-a47a7b8c48f69b12" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-ef46dfc68a7ac14d:sha256:4a729a48e194637ea01604419f237f8ce74d8e9bd3ce6231d41a0ff1a69f6741:chars-5266-7021:9e8d817710c940c49c87098df01a86ab699d46a8c125b44512086d9e0675504b", "character_start": 5266, "character_end": 7021, "utf8_byte_start": 5296, "utf8_byte_end": 7067, "passage_sha256": "9e8d817710c940c49c87098df01a86ab699d46a8c125b44512086d9e0675504b", "reader_fragment": "p-5266-7021-9e8d817710c940c4" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-ef46dfc68a7ac14d:sha256:4a729a48e194637ea01604419f237f8ce74d8e9bd3ce6231d41a0ff1a69f6741:chars-7021-8819:ccb371eb125728e91ec5fa71171eed6b2c9aa30fb6b2ddf18cc673036c8a1cda", "character_start": 7021, "character_end": 8819, "utf8_byte_start": 7067, "utf8_byte_end": 8871, "passage_sha256": "ccb371eb125728e91ec5fa71171eed6b2c9aa30fb6b2ddf18cc673036c8a1cda", "reader_fragment": "p-7021-8819-ccb371eb125728e9" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-ef46dfc68a7ac14d:sha256:4a729a48e194637ea01604419f237f8ce74d8e9bd3ce6231d41a0ff1a69f6741:chars-8819-10619:1cb8f2350fe37d1751be9718bd35e4a8692ab5ae105ed6f5edfda27745f2554b", "character_start": 8819, "character_end": 10619, "utf8_byte_start": 8871, "utf8_byte_end": 10677, "passage_sha256": "1cb8f2350fe37d1751be9718bd35e4a8692ab5ae105ed6f5edfda27745f2554b", "reader_fragment": "p-8819-10619-1cb8f2350fe37d17" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-ef46dfc68a7ac14d:sha256:4a729a48e194637ea01604419f237f8ce74d8e9bd3ce6231d41a0ff1a69f6741:chars-10619-11656:330d34c97518188830f2c6e764962125ea58b74c9c91a73b6dacbec74842fea2", "character_start": 10619, "character_end": 11656, "utf8_byte_start": 10677, "utf8_byte_end": 11720, "passage_sha256": "330d34c97518188830f2c6e764962125ea58b74c9c91a73b6dacbec74842fea2", "reader_fragment": "p-10619-11656-330d34c975181888" } ] }