Legal Definitions Glossary

(i) cannabis resin (charas) that is, the separated resin, whether crude or purified, obtained from the cannabis plant and also includes concentrated preparation and resin known as hashish oil or liquid hashish; (ii) the flowering or fruiting tops of the cannabis plant (excluding the seed and leaves when not accompanied by the tops) from which the resin has not been extracted, by whatever name they may be designated or known [and include all forms known as bhang, siddhi or ganja]; and (iii) any mixture with or without neutral materials of any of the above forms of cannabis or any drink prepared therefrom

any plant of the genus cannabis

the part or parts of the Specified Areas declared to be the site for the Pakistan Capital under section 3

an educational institution, an orphanage or a place of safety for one or more children for the purposes of providing alternative care or foster care; it may include a children's home, rehabilitation center or shelter either on permanent or temporary basis whether public or private; registered or unregistered

government institutions and other organizations including non-governmental organizations, providing necessary age and gender- appropriate services for admission, care, protection and rehabilitation of children in need of care, recognized under this Act or the rules made thereunder

the net usable floor area of an apartment, excluding the area covered by the external walls, areas under services shafts, exclusive balcony or verandah area and exclusive open terrace area, but includes the area covered by the internal partition walls of the apartment.

cows, buffaloes, bulls, oxen, bullocks, heifers, calves, camels, sheep, goats and others

the same meaning as assigned to it under the Securities Act, 2015 (III of 2015)

the Chairman of the Authority; 1Subs. by Federal Adaptation of Laws Order, 1975, Art. II and Table.

the Chairman of the Union Council or a person appointed by the Federal Government in the Cantonment areas, or by the Provincial Government in other areas, or by an officer authorized in that behalf by any such Government, to discharge the functions of Chairman under this Ordinance: 1The 15th day of July, 1961, see Gaz. of P., 1961, Ext., p. 1128.a. 2Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for "Central Government". 3The words " of the Union Council" omitted by the Muslim Family Laws (Amdt.) Ordinance, 1961 (21 of 1961), s. 2. 4Subs. ibid., for the semi-colon. 5Proviso added, ibid. 6Subs. ibid., for the original clause (b). 7Subs. by A.O., 1964, Art. 2 and Sch., for "Central or a Provincial Government". Provided that where the Chairman of the Union Council is a non-Muslim, or he himself wishes to make an application to the Arbitration Council, or is owing to illness or any other reason, unable to discharge the functions of Chairman, the Council shall elect one of its Muslim members as Chairman for the purposes of this Ordinance]

the Chairman of a Union Council as mentioned in section 11

“Chairman National Accountability Bureau” means a person who is appointed as such by the Federal Government as mentioned in section 6 (b) hereafter;

the Chairperson of the Food Authority

the chairperson of the Board; (ix) "chief executive officer "means the chief executive officer of the Authority

the Chairperson of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority appointed under this Act

the Chairperson of the Council

any head of charge when the charge contains more than one. (d) [Rep. by Act (XI of 1923), section 3 and Schd. I] (e) [Omitted by Law Reforms Ordinance (XII of 1972), Schd. Item I].

, as applied to an instrument executed or first executed after the commencement of this Act, chargeable under this Act, and, is applied to any other instrument, chargeable under the law in force in Pakistan when such instrument was executed or, where several persons executed the instrument at different times, first executed

a society, an agency, a non-governmental organization, non-profit organization, a trust, Madrasa, a religious seminary or any other organization by any other name that is a non-profit, voluntary association of persons, natural or juristic, not controlled by any government and set up for one or more public benefit or purposes mentioned in the Schedule and includes local branches of foreign non- profit organizations but excludes such foreign organizations operating in Pakistan to whose charter, Pakistan is a signatory or where a protocol exists between the Government of Pakistan and an organization and depending for its resources on public subscription, donations or government grants

a description in writing of the purposes, aims, objectives and the mode of functioning of a charity

the same meaning as assigned to it under the Chartered Accountants Ordinance, 1961 (X of 1961); (14) "chief executive", in relation to a company means an individual who, subject to control and directions of the board, is entrusted with whole, or substantially whole, of the powers of management of affairs of the company and includes a director or any other person occupying the position of a chief executive, by whatever name called, and whether under a contract of service or otherwise

a bill of exchange drawn on a specified banker and not expressed to be payable otherwise than on demand: 2[* * * * * * *] (9) "Collector". "Collector"- 3[(a) means the Collector of a district; and] (b) includes a Deputy Commissioner and any officer whom 4[the Provincial Government] may, by notification in the official Gazette, appoint in this behalf: 1 Subs. by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (Ordinance No. XXI of 1960), s. 3 and 2nd Sch. (with effect from the 14th October, 1955), for "the Provinces and the Capital of the Federation" which had been subs. by A.O., 1949, Arts. 3(2) and 4, for "British India". 2 Cl. (8) defining "Chief Controlling Revenue-authority", rep. by A.O., 1937 : see now definition in s. 3 (9a) of the General Clauses Act, 1897 (Act No. X of 1897). 3 Subs. by A.O., 1949, Sch., for the original sub-clause (a). 4 The Original words "the L.G." were first subs. by A.O., 1937, and then amended by A.O., 1964, Art. 2 and Sch. (with effect from the 27th May, 1964), to read as above.

the chief administrator of auqaf appointed under section 3

Chief Commissioner of ICT

an individual appointed to perform such functions and duties as are customarily performed by a chief financial officer

the Chief Officer appointed under section 63

a person who at the time of the commission of the offence has not attained the age of eighteen years

a person who has not attained the age of eighteen years

any male or female, who has not attained the age of eighteen years

any person under the age of eighteen years

a person male or female who is under eighteen years of age

any person under the age of eighteen years living in a domestic relationship with the respondent and includes any adopted, step or foster child

physical or mental violence, injury, exploitation, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or sexual abuse

as defined under the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Protection Act, 2018, and shall also include the marriage of a child or solemnization of marriage of a child with any person over the age of eighteen years or with another child

the female child who has not attained the age of eighteen years

a plan containing details of the services to be provided to the child, based on a comprehensive assessment of the child and his family under section 14

all types of exploitation prejudicial to the protection and care of a child including exploitation in terrorist activities, medical or scientific experimentation, sports or performing arts etc.

the male child who has not attained the age of eighteen years

an act of solemnizing marriage or Nikah where both or either of the contracting party to the marriage is a child

the Child Protection Institution established under sub-section (1) of section 10

a Child Protection Officer appointed under sub-section (2) of section 10

recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of a child for the purpose of child marriage.

the Frontier Constabulary, Frontier Corps, Pakistan Coast Guards, Pakistan Rangers or any other civil armed force notified by the Federal Government as such

a co-operative society registered under the Co-operative Societies Act, 1912 (II of 1912), or under any other law for the time being in force relating to the registration of co-operative societies; (3) "district" and "sub-district" respectively mean a district and sub-district formed under this Act

a co-operative society registered under the Co-operative Societies Act, 1912 (II of 1912), or under any other law for the time being in force relating to the registration of co-operative societies

the plant of any species of the genus Erythroxylon

(i) crude cocaine, that is, any extract of coca leaf which can be used, directly or indirectly for the manufacture or production of cocaine; (ii) ecgonine, that is, leavo-ecgonine having the chemical formula C9H15NO3H2O and all chemical derivatives of leavo-ecgonine including benzoylecgonine from which it can be recovered; (iii) cocaine, that is, methyl-benzoyl-leavo-ecgonine having the chemical formula C17H21NO4 and its salts; and (iv) all preparations containing more than 0.1 per cent of cocaine

(i) the leave of the coca bush except a leaf from which all ecgonine, cocaine or any other ecgonine alkaloids have been removed; (ii) any mixture thereof, with or without neutral material, but does not include any preparation containing not more than 0.1 per cent of cocaine

the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898)

the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898)

the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898)

the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898)

the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898)

the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898)

the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898)

the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898)

the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act No.V of 1898)

the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898

the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (No. V of 1898)

the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898)

“Code” means the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898) ;

Code of Civil Procedure,, means the Code of Civil procedure, 1908;

Code of Criminal Procedure,, means the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898;

an instrument made in relation to a will and explaining, altering or adding to its dispositions, and shall be deemed to form part of the will

a case in which a police officer may, in accordance with the second Schedule or under any law for the time being in force, arrest without warrant

the chief officer in charge of the revenue-administration of a district, and includes any officer whom the Provincial Government, by notification in the official Gazette, may, by name or in virtue of his Office, appoint to be a Collector in any local area, or with respect to any class of persons, for all or any of the purposes of this Act

the officer in actual command for the time being of any regiment, corps, ship, detachment or depot to which the officer, soldier, sailor or airman belongs

the commencement certificate or the building permit or the construction permit, by whatever name called issued by the an authority empowered by law or the owner if so permitted by law to allow or permit the developer to begin development works on an immovable property, as per the sanctioned plan approved and issued an authority empowered by law

a building constructed and used solely for the purpose of an office, business or trade

the same meaning as assigned to it under the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan Act, 1997 (XLII of 1997)

the Commissioner of the Division concerned, and includes any other officer appointed by the Authority to exercise the powers of the Commissioner under this Ordinance

- (i) the entire land for the real estate project even when the project is developed in phases and registration under this Act is sought for only a phase out of the entire land; (ii) the cases, lifts, fire escapes, and common entrances and exits of buildings; (iii) the common basements, terraces, parks, play areas; open parking areas and common storage spaces; (iv) the premises for the lodging of persons employed for the management of the property including accommodation for watch and ward staffs or for the lodging and offices of community service personnel; (v) Installations of central services such as electricity, gas, water and sanitation, air-conditioning, system for water conservation and renewable energy and incinerating; (vi) the water tanks, sumps, motors, fans, compressors, ducts and all apparatus connected with installations for common use; (vii) all community and commercial facilities as provided in the real estate project; and (viii) all other portion of the project necessary or convenient for its maintenance, safety, etc., and in common use

a company formed and registered under this Act or the company law

any body corporate; (iv) "layer" in relation to a holding company means its subsidiary or subsidiaries

a company incorporated and registered under the Companies Act, 2017 (XIX of 2017) to develop and construct real estate projects

the repealed Companies Act, 1913 (VII of 1913), Companies Ordinance, 1984(XLVII of 1984), Companies Ordinance, 2016 (VI of 2016) and also includes this Act unless the context provides otherwise

a company having the liability of its members limited by the memorandum to such amount as the members may respectively thereby undertake to contribute to the assets of the company in the event of its being wound up

a company having the liability of its members limited by the memorandum to the extent of amount, if any, remaining unpaid on the shares respectively held by them

any individual appointed to perform secretarial and other duties customarily performed by a company secretary and declared as such, having such qualifications and experience, as may be specified

the 'regulators', 'the oversight bodies for SRBs as specified in the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2010 (VII of 2010)', 'the investigating or prosecuting agency' and 'the Financial Monitoring Unit'

the 'regulators', the "investigating or prosecuting agency" and the "Financial Monitoring Unit". as specified in the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2010 (VI1 of 2010)

means the ‘regulators‘, “the oversight bodies for SRBs as specified in the Anti -Money Laundering Act, 2010 (VII of 2010)”, the “investigating or prosecuting agency” and “the Financial Monitoring Unit”

the Secretary Interior Division

any person who makes complaint of any offence under this Act and includes a victim, or an individual having substantial reasons to believe that the offence has been committed

any person who makes complaints of any offence under this Act and includes a victim, or an individual having substantial reasons to believe the offence is being committed or likely to be committed and any authority referring the complaint for investigation;

allegations made orally or in writing to the Agency that a public official or a person working in an official capacity has committed an offence under this Act; (d) "complainant" means any person filing a complaint, upon having reliable information of the commission of an offence under this Act, or his representative as the case may be

the completion certificate, or such other certificate, by whatever name called, issued by the an authority empowered by law certifying that the real estate project has been developed according to the sanctioned plan, layout plan and specifications, as approved by the an authority empowered by law under the local laws

an analysis undertaken by a Child Protection Officer under section 13, to determine as to whether a child requires care in accordance with the provisions of this Act

the Ministry or department to which the business of the Act stands allocated

means a process in which a neutral person encourages the parties to resolve their civil or commercial disputes voluntarily including by advising on possible solutions and terms of settlement

“Conciliation Committee” means the Conciliation Committee constituted under section 25A;

the collection, treatment, removal and disposal of refuse

When, at the desire of the promisor, the promisee or any other person has done or abstained from doing, or does or abstains from doing, or promises to do or to abstain from doing, something, such act or abstinence or promise is called a consideration for the promise

a person who receives food against a consideration or otherwise and includes an end user of the food

any person that purchases the food against consideration or otherwise

any representation of fact, information or concept for processing in an information system including source code or a program suitable to cause an information system to perform a function

An agreement enforceable by law is a contract

the technique of allowing illicit or suspect consignments of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or chemical precursors to pass out of, through or into Pakistan, with the knowledge and under the supervision of the Federal Government with a view to identifying persons involved in the commission of offences cognizable under this Act

any substance which may be used for the production or manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substance 1[or which is declared to be a controlled substance and given in the Schedule-II pursuant to the provision of any international convention, and by notification in the official Gazette by the divison concerned,]

a Controller of Rents appointed by the Federal Government from amongst persons holding a judicial office and includes an Additional Controller of Rent under this Ordinance

the Ministry and the relevant Department from where the Senior Citizen had retired

a conveyance on sale and every instrument by which property, whether moveable or immoveable, is transferred inter vivos and which is not otherwise specifically provided for by Schedule I

a conveyance of any description whatsoever and includes, any aircraft, vehicle, vessel, railways or animal

- (a) a company incorporated under this Act or company law; or (b) a company incorporated outside Pakistan, or (c) a statutory body declared as body corporate in the relevant statute, but does not include - (i) a co-operative society registered under any law relating to cooperative societies; or (ii) any other entity, not being a company as defined in this Act or any other law for the time being which the concerned Minister-in-Charge of the Federal Government may, by notification, specify in this behalf

a corporation established by or under any Federal Act

the same meaning as assigned to it under the Cost and Management Accountants Act, 1966 (XIV of 1966)

the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, the Pakistan Nursing Council, the National Council for Homeopathy, the National Council for Tibb, the Pharmacy Council or such other Councils established by Federal Government to regulate various cadre of healthcare professional and notified in official Gazette under this clause

the Islamabad Capital Territory Senior Citizens Council established under section 3 of this Act

the National Council for Homeopathy established under the Unani, Ayurvedic and Homoeopathic Practitioners Act, 1965 (II of 1965)

the National Council for Tibb established under the Unani, Ayurvedic and Homoeopathic Practitioners Act, 1965 (I of 1965)

a Civil Court having jurisdiction to decide the question forming the subject-matter of the reference if the same had been the subject-matter of a suit, but does not, except for the purpose of arbitration proceedings under section 21, include a Small Cause Court

an Anti-terrorism Court established under section 13

the Court of Session

the Court of competent jurisdiction designated under this Act

a Company Bench of a High Court having jurisdiction under this Act

the Family Court established under the Family Courts Act, 1964(XXXV of 1964); (l) "Government means the Federal Government

the District and Sessions Courts of Islamabad and the Islamabad High Court

the Court of a District & Sessions Judge; 1The original word was 'Bill' which later on corrected via corrigenda issued on date 22-08-2025

the family court established under the family Courts Act, 1964 and shall have and exercise all the powers of a judicial magistrate of the first class under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898)

means any court, tribunal or quasi-judicial fora having original jurisdiction

“Court” means Accountability Court established under section 5A of this Ordinance;

critical elements of infrastructure namely assets, facilities, systems, networks or processes the loss or compromise of which could result in, - (a) major detrimental impact on the availability, integrity or delivery of essential services including those services, whose integrity, if compromised, could result in significant loss of life or casualties, taking into account significant economic or social impacts or (b) significant impact on national security, national defense, or the functioning of the state: Provided that the Government may designate any private or Government infrastructure in accordance with the objectives of sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) above, as critical infrastructure as may be prescribed under this Act 1Subs. by Act No. II of 2025, s.2. 2Ins. by Act No. XXXVII of 2023, s.2.

an information system, program or data that supports or performs a function with respect to a critical infrastructure

the death of a person while in custody, directly or indirectly caused by and attributable to acts of torture committed upon the deceased while in custody; Explanation I.- Custodial death includes death occurring in police, private or medical premises, in a public place or in a police or other vehicle or in jail. It includes death occurring while a person is being arrested or taken into detention or being questioned; and Explanation II.- Custodial death also includes all cases where the death of a person after his release from custody is directly caused by and may be substantially attributed to acts committed upon the deceased while in custody

and includes any person taking advantage of his position and committing rape or sexual abuse on a person in his custody or in custody of a public official subordinate to him

all situations where a person is detained or deprived of his liberty by any person, including a public official or by any other person working in an official capacity irrespective of legality nature and any place of such detention. Explanation I.- It includes judicial custody and all forms of temporary and permanent restraint upon the movement of a person by law or by force or by other means; and Explanation II.- A person shall be deemed to be in custody during search, arrest and seizure proceedings

a person to whom finance has been extended by a financial institution [within or outside Pakistan] and includes a person on whose behalf a guarantee or letter of credit has been issued by a financial institution as well as a surety or an indemnifier