Foreign Relations’ Act, 1932

The Foreign Relations’ Act, 1932

(Act No. XII of 1932)

8th April, 1932

An Act to provide against the publication of statements likely to prejudice the maintenance of friendly relations between (the Government of Pakistan) and the Governments of certain foreign States.

Whereas it is expedient to provide against the publication of statements likely to prejudice the maintenance of friendly relations between (the Governments of Pakistan) and the Governments of certain foreign State;

It is hereby enacted as follows:---

1. Short title and extent.-(1) This Act may be called the Foreign Relations’ Act, 1932.

(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan.

2. Power of Central Government to prosecute in certain cases of defamation.-Where an offence falling under Chapter XXI of the Pakistan Penal Code is committed against a Ruler of a State outside but adjourning (Pakistan), or against the consort or son or principal Minister of such Ruler, the (Central Government) may make, or authorise any person to make, a complaint in writing of such offence, and, notwithstanding any thing contained in section 198 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, any Court/competent in order respects to take cognizance of such offence may take cognizance thereof on such complaint.

3. Power to forfeit certain publications or to detain them in the course of transaction through post.-The provisions of section^ 99-A to 99-G of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, and sections 27-B to 27-D of the Post Office Act, 1898, shall apply in the case of any book, newspaper or other document containing matter which is defamatory of a Ruler of a State outside but adjoining [Pakistan] or of the consort of a son or principal Minister of such Ruler and tends to prejudice the maintenance of friendly relations between [the Government of Pakistan] and the Government of such State, in like manner as they apply in the case of a book, newspaper or document containing seditious matter within the meaning of those sections:---

Provided that for the purposes of this section the said provisions shall be construed as if for the words [Provincial Government] wherever they occur, the words [Central Government] were substituted.

4. Proof of status of person defamed.-Where, In any trial of an offence upon a complaint under section 2 or in any proceeding before a High Court arising out of section 3, there is a question whether any person is a Ruler of any State, or is the consort or son or principal Minister of such Ruler, a certificate under the hand of a Secretary to the [Central Government] that such person is such Ruler, consort, son or principal Minister shall be conclusive proof of that fact.