PPC § 188 — Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant

Statutory text (English)

Whoever, knowing that,
by an order promulgated by a public servant lawfully empowered to promulgate such order, he is
directed to abstain from a certain act, or to take certain order with certain property in his possession or
under his management, disobeys such direction,
shall, if such disobedience causes or tends to cause obstruction, annoyance or injury, or risk of
obstruction, annoyance or injury, to any persons lawfully employed, be punished with simple
imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month or with fine which may extend to 2[six
hundred rupees], or with both ;
and if such disobedience causes or tends to cause danger to human life, health or safety, or
causes or tends to cause a riot or affray, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for
a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to 2[three thousand rupees], or
with both.

Explanation.— It is not necessary that the offender should intend to produce harm, or
contemplate his disobedience as likely to produce harm. It is sufficient that he knows of the order
which he disobeys, and that his disobedience produces, or is likely to produce, harm.

Illustration
An order is promulgated by a public servant lawfully empowered to promulgate such order,
directing that a religious procession shall not pass down a certain street. A knowingly disobeys the
order, and thereby causes danger of riot. A has committed the offence defined in this section.

Source and verification

Source citation: PPC (Act XLV of 1860) s.188: Pakistan Code portal consolidated official PDF 'THE PAKISTAN PENAL CODE' (Act No. XLV of 1860), p. 79, 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. 79) — reflects all amendments recorded in the official footnotes up to ingest date 2026-09-15. Automated transcription; per-amendment version…

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