CrPC § 144 — Power to issue order absolute at once in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended

Statutory text (English)

danger.—
(1) In cases where, in the opinion of 2[the Zila Nazim upon the written recommendation of the
District Superintendent of Police or Executive District Officer] 3[ there is sufficient ground for proceeding
under this section and] immediate prevention or speedy remedy is desirable,
2[the Zila Nazim] may, by a written order stating the material facts of the case and served in manner
provided by section 134, direct any person to abstain from a certain act or take certain order with certain
property in his possession or under his management, if 2[the Zila Nazim] considers that such direction is
likely to prevent, or tends to prevent, obstruction, annoyance or injury, or risk of obstruction, annoyance or
injury, to any person lawfully employed, or danger to human life, health or safety, or a disturbance of the
public tranquillity, or a riot, or an affray.

(2) An order under this section may, in case of emergency or in cases where the circumstances do not
admit of the serving in due time of a notice upon the person against whom the order is directed, be passed,
exparte.

(3) An order under this section may be directed to a particular individual, or to the public generally
when frequenting or visiting a particular place.

(4) 2[The Zila Nazim] may, 3[either on his own motion or on the application of any person aggrieved],
rescind order made under this section by himself or by his predecessor in office.
3[
(5) Where such an application is received, the 2[Zila Nazim] shall afford to the applicant an early
opportunity of appearing before him either in person or by pleader and showing cause against the order ;
and, if the 2[Zila Nazim] rejects the application wholly or in part, he shall record in writing his reasons for so
doing.]
4[
(6) No order under this section shall remain in force for more than two 4[consecutive days and not
more than seven days in a month] from the making thereof ; unless, in cases of danger to human life, health
or safety, or a likelihood of a riot or an affray, the 5[Provincial Government], by notification in the official
Gazette, otherwise directs.
1[
(7) In the application of sub-sections

(1) to

(6) to the districts where the local Government elections
have not been held, or the Zila Nazim has not assumed charge of office, any reference in those provisions to
the Zila Nazim shall be read as a reference to the District Coordination Officer in relation to such districts:

Provided that this sub-section shall cease to have effect, and shall be deemed to have been repealed, at
the time when local Governments are installed in the districts as aforesaid.]

Source and verification

Source citation: CrPC (Act V of 1898) s.144: Pakistan Code portal consolidated official PDF 'THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE' (Act No. V of 1898, last amended 2017-02-16), p. 73, 74, ingested 2026-09-15. Automated transcription from official source (pypdf extraction, audited artifact repair); human admin re-check required before production.

Verification status: verified · Text status: auto_transcribed_verified_source

The record cites an official source, but its transcription is automated or only partly checked; a human re-check is pending.

Official Urdu text status: pending_official_urdu_text. Where official Urdu wording has not been sourced, Qanoon does not substitute an unverified translation for the statutory text.

Historical text notes

1 historical record is linked to this section. Historical wording may be incomplete or pending verification; it is not presented as current law.

• Date not confirmed: Consolidated current text as published in the official Pakistan Code PDF (p. 73, 74) — reflects all amendments recorded in the official footnotes up to ingest date 2026-09-15. Automated transcription; per-amendment…

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