THE CONTEMPT OF COURT ACT, 2012
ACT NO. XVIII OF 2012
[12th July, 2012]
An Act to enact a law relating to contempt of court
WHEREAS it is expedient to repeal and reenact the law of contempt in exercise of the powers
conferred by clause (3) of Article 204 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan;
It is hereby enacted as follows:—
1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Contempt of Court
Act, 2012.
(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan.
(3) It shall come into force at once.
2. Interpretation. In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,—
(a) "judge" includes all officers acting in a judicial capacity in the administration of justice;
and
(b) judicial proceedings in relation to any matter shall be deemed to be pending from the time
when a court has come to be seized of the matter in a judicial capacity, till such time as
the appellate, revisional or review proceedings in respect of the matter have come to an
end or the period of limitation for filing such proceedings has expired without any such
proceedings having been initiated.
3. Contempt of court. Whoever disobeys or disregards any order, direction or process of a court,
which he is legally bound to obey or commits a willful breach of a valid undertaking given to a court
or does anything which is intended to or tends to bring the authority of a court or the administration
of law into disrespect or disrepute, or to interfere with or obstruct or interrupt the process of law or
the due course of any judicial proceedings, or to lower the authority of a court or scandalize a judge
in relation to his office, or to disturb the order or decorum of a court, is said to commit "contempt of
court":
Provided that the following shall not amount to commission of contempt of court, namely:—
(i) exercise of powers and performance of functions by a public office holder of his
respective office under clause (1) of Article 248 of the Constitution for any act done or
purported to be done in exercise of those powers and performance of those functions;
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