"\u003chtml xmlns:o=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office\"\r\nxmlns:w=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word\"\r\nxmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40\"\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003chead\u003e\r\n\u003cmeta http-equiv=Content-Type content=\"text/html; charset=windows-1252\"\u003e\r\n\u003cmeta name=ProgId content=Word.Document\u003e\r\n\u003cmeta name=Generator content=\"Microsoft Word 11\"\u003e\r\n\u003cmeta name=Originator content=\"Microsoft Word 11\"\u003e\r\n\u003clink rel=File-List href=\"2022J5_files/filelist.xml\"\u003e\r\n\u003ctitle\u003eIS MAGISTRATE COMPETENT UNDER SECTION 30 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL\r\nPROCEDURE, 1898, TO TRY CASES UNDER THE SINDH ARMS ACT, 2013\u003c/title\u003e\r\n\u003c!--[if gte mso 9]\u003e\u003cxml\u003e\r\n \u003co:DocumentProperties\u003e\r\n  \u003co:Author\u003eUser\u003c/o:Author\u003e\r\n  \u003co:Template\u003eNormal\u003c/o:Template\u003e\r\n  \u003co:LastAuthor\u003eUser\u003c/o:LastAuthor\u003e\r\n  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@page\r\n\t{mso-page-border-surround-header:no;\r\n\tmso-page-border-surround-footer:no;}\r\n@page Section1\r\n\t{size:8.5in 11.0in;\r\n\tmargin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;\r\n\tmso-header-margin:.5in;\r\n\tmso-footer-margin:.5in;\r\n\tmso-paper-source:0;}\r\ndiv.Section1\r\n\t{page:Section1;}\r\n--\u003e\r\n\u003c/style\u003e\r\n\u003c!--[if gte mso 10]\u003e\r\n\u003cstyle\u003e\r\n /* Style Definitions */\r\n table.MsoNormalTable\r\n\t{mso-style-name:\"Table Normal\";\r\n\tmso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;\r\n\tmso-tstyle-colband-size:0;\r\n\tmso-style-noshow:yes;\r\n\tmso-style-parent:\"\";\r\n\tmso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;\r\n\tmso-para-margin:0in;\r\n\tmso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;\r\n\tmso-pagination:widow-orphan;\r\n\tfont-size:10.0pt;\r\n\tfont-family:\"Times New Roman\";\r\n\tmso-ansi-language:#0400;\r\n\tmso-fareast-language:#0400;\r\n\tmso-bidi-language:#0400;}\r\n\u003c/style\u003e\r\n\u003c![endif]--\u003e\r\n\u003c/head\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cbody lang=EN-US style=\u0027tab-interval:.5in;text-justify-trim:punctuation\u0027\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv class=Section1\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal align=center style=\u0027margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center;\r\nline-height:12.1pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;mso-pagination:none;page-break-after:\r\navoid;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\u0027\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN\r\nstyle=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:EN\u0027\u003eIS MAGISTRATE COMPETENT UNDER\r\nSECTION 30 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 1898, TO TRY CASES UNDER THE\r\nSINDH ARMS ACT, 2013\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal align=center style=\u0027margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center;\r\nline-height:12.1pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;mso-pagination:none;page-break-after:\r\navoid;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\u0027\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN\r\nstyle=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:EN\u0027\u003eBy\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal align=center style=\u0027margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center;\r\nline-height:12.1pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;mso-pagination:none;page-break-after:\r\navoid;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\u0027\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN\r\nstyle=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:EN\u0027\u003eHaleem Ahmed, Additional\r\nDistrict and Sessions Judge, Karachi East\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:\r\n.2in;mso-pagination:none;page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:\r\nnone;text-autospace:none\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN style=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:\r\nEN\u0027\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0027mso-tab-count:1\u0027\u003e       \u003c/span\u003eThe Code of Criminal Procedure\r\n(\u0026quot;Code\u0026quot;) envisages two tiers of Courts i.e. Court of Session and\r\nCourt of Magistrate, besides the High Court, which is the Constitutional Court\r\nand not established by the Code. Unlike Sessions Court, the Court of Magistrate\r\nis vested with ordinary, special and additional powers under the Code at\r\ndifferent levels of criminal proceedings. Ordinarily, a Magistrate cannot pass\r\nsentence exceeding three years imprisonment. However, section 30 of the Code\r\nvests in the Magistrate power to try as a Magistrate all offences not punishable\r\nwith death. The Provincial Assembly of Sindh has enacted the Sindh Arms Act,\r\n2013 (\u0026quot;Act\u0026quot;) in recent times, which provides for offences pertaining\r\nto arms and ammunitions, where maximum punishment for the offence is extendable\r\nto fourteen years imprisonment. The debate has sparked within the legal\r\nfraternity in general and district judiciary in particular whether Magistrate\r\nvested with special jurisdiction section 30 of the Code is competent to try\r\noffences under the Act , notwithstanding anything contained in the Act.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:\r\n.2in;mso-pagination:none;page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:\r\nnone;text-autospace:none\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN style=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:\r\nEN\u0027\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0027mso-tab-count:1\u0027\u003e       \u003c/span\u003eFor the sake of discussion, it\r\nis imperative to precisely examine sections 28 and 29 which are relevant in\r\nthis context. Section 28 reads as:\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;\r\nmargin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.3in;line-height:12.1pt;\r\nmso-line-height-rule:exactly;mso-pagination:none;page-break-after:avoid;\r\ntab-stops:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN\r\nstyle=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:EN\u0027\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0027mso-tab-count:\r\n1\u0027\u003e       \u003c/span\u003e\u0026quot;Offences under Penal Code: Subject to the other\r\nprovisions of this Code any offence under the Pakistan Penal Code may be\r\ntried-- \u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;\r\nmargin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.3in;line-height:12.1pt;\r\nmso-line-height-rule:exactly;mso-pagination:none;page-break-after:avoid;\r\ntab-stops:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN\r\nstyle=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:EN\u0027\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0027mso-tab-count:\r\n1\u0027\u003e       \u003c/span\u003e(a) by the High Court, or \u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;\r\nmargin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.3in;line-height:12.1pt;\r\nmso-line-height-rule:exactly;mso-pagination:none;page-break-after:avoid;\r\ntab-stops:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN\r\nstyle=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:EN\u0027\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0027mso-tab-count:\r\n1\u0027\u003e       \u003c/span\u003e(b) by the Court of Session, or by any other Court by which\r\nsuch offence is shown in the eighth column of the Second Schedule to be\r\ntriable.\u0026quot;\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:\r\n.2in;line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;mso-pagination:none;\r\npage-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:\r\nnone\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN style=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:EN\u0027\u003e\u003cspan\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-tab-count:1\u0027\u003e       \u003c/span\u003eThis provision in plain terms lays down\r\nthe general rule that offences under Pakistan Penal Code shall be tried by\r\nSessions Court or Court of Magistrate. It implies in the scheme of the Code\r\nthat all courts established under the Code have jurisdiction to try all\r\noffences under Pakistan Penal Code as per description given in the eighth\r\ncolumn of the second schedule. Nevertheless, this provision is \u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:\r\n.2in;line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;mso-pagination:none;\r\npage-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:\r\nnone\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN style=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:EN\u0027\u003esubject to\r\nother provision of the Code, which means that if certain offences are shown to\r\nbe triable by the Court of Sessions, the Magistrate invested with Section 30\r\nmay try the same, if such offences are not punishable to death. Section 28 may\r\nalso to be read \u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:\r\n.2in;line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;mso-pagination:none;\r\npage-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:\r\nnone\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN style=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:EN\u0027\u003ewith\r\nsection 30 due to the fact that at the outset of Section 28 it is stipulated\r\nthat \u0027subject to other provisions of this Code.\u0027 However, it must be borne in\r\nmind that meaning of the said qualifying clause is not necessarily restricted\r\nor limited to section 30, but it may include some other provisions of the Code.\r\nThis point would be elucidated after comprehensive discussion from other\r\ncorresponding provisions of the Code. For a while, let\u0027s now turn focus to\r\nsection 29 of the Code which deals with offences under other laws unlike\r\npreceding provision and it reads as:\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;\r\nmargin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.3in;line-height:12.0pt;\r\nmso-line-height-rule:exactly;mso-pagination:none;page-break-after:avoid;\r\ntab-stops:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN\r\nstyle=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:EN\u0027\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0027mso-tab-count:\r\n1\u0027\u003e       \u003c/span\u003e\u0026quot;Offences under other laws: (1) Subject to the other\r\nprovisions of this Code, any offence under any other law shall, when any Court\r\nis mentioned in this behalf in such law, be tried by such Court. \u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;\r\nmargin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.3in;line-height:12.0pt;\r\nmso-line-height-rule:exactly;mso-pagination:none;page-break-after:avoid;\r\ntab-stops:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN\r\nstyle=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:EN\u0027\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0027mso-tab-count:\r\n1\u0027\u003e       \u003c/span\u003e(2) When no Court is so mentioned, it may be tried by the High\r\nCourt or subject as aforesaid by any Court constituted under this Code by which\r\nsuch offence is shown in the eighth column of the Second Schedule to be\r\ntriable.\u0026quot; \u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:\r\n.2in;line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;mso-pagination:none;\r\npage-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:\r\nnone\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN style=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:EN\u0027\u003e\u003cspan\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-tab-count:1\u0027\u003e       \u003c/span\u003eThis provision envisages trial of cases\r\nunder other laws which may include any local or special law excluding the trial\r\nunder the Pakistan Penal Code. It lays down that offences under other laws\r\nshall be tried by any Court mentioned in any local or special law. However,\r\nthis provision being conditional and qualified like the previous one, is\r\nsubject to other provisions of the Code.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:\r\n.2in;line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;mso-pagination:none;\r\npage-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:\r\nnone\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN style=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:EN\u0027\u003e\u003cspan\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-tab-count:1\u0027\u003e       \u003c/span\u003eSection 30 of the Code begins with a non\r\nobstante clause, which reads as, notwithstanding anything contained in sections\r\n28 and 29, the Provincial Government may invest any Magistrate with power to\r\ntry as a Magistrate all offences not punishable with death. Apparently, it\r\nlooks as if the non obstante clause incorporated at the outset of the\r\nprovisions has overriding effect on sections 28 and 29 of the Code. It clearly\r\nillustrates that offence under Pakistan Penal Code shall be triable by the\r\nCourt according to second schedule while offences under other laws are to be\r\ntried in the courts mentioned in other laws, the Magistrate vested with power\r\nunder Section 30 may try any offence(s) not punishable to death notwithstanding\r\nanything contained in sections 28 and 29. Seemingly, section 30 is in consonance\r\nwith second schedule of the Code, to the extent of offences specified in the\r\nPakistan Penal Code, where sentence in number of offences is beyond the\r\njurisdiction of Magistrate to award in the ordinary course. According to\r\nSection 32 of the Code, a Magistrate may pass a sentence not exceeding three\r\nyears, therefore, the Magistrate, if invested with power under Section 30 power\r\ncan conveniently pass sentences more than three years but less than seven years\r\ndue to the fetters placed under section 37 of the Code. But, according to\r\nsection 35 of the Code, the aggregate punishment shall not exceed twice the\r\namount of punishment the Magistrate is empowered to inflict in case of sentence\r\nof conviction of several offences at one trial which means that in extraordinary\r\ncircumstances powers to pass sentence by Magistrates may be enhanced. The sole\r\npurpose in the mind of the legislature while specifying the Court of Magistrate\r\nin the eighth column of the second schedule in multiple offences in which\r\nenhanced punishment (more than three years) is prescribed is that the\r\nMagistrate invested with powers under section 30 power may conveniently try and\r\npass an appropriate sentence without any impediment where enhanced sentence is\r\nwarranted in the interest of justice. This proposition holds good for offences\r\nas specified in the Pakistan Penal Code but the same cannot be true for any\r\nlocal or special law in force for the time being such as the Sindh Arms Act.\r\nThe trouble begins when under section 35 of the Sindh Arms Act expressly\r\nconfers jurisdiction upon the Court of Sessions for trial of all offences. For\r\nthe sake of convenience section 35 of the Sindh Arms Act is reproduced as\r\nunder:\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;\r\nmargin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.3in;line-height:12.1pt;\r\nmso-line-height-rule:exactly;mso-pagination:none;page-break-after:avoid;\r\ntab-stops:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN\r\nstyle=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:EN\u0027\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0027mso-tab-count:\r\n1\u0027\u003e       \u003c/span\u003e\u0026quot;All offences under this Act, shall be cognizable withing\r\nthe meaning of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, and triable by the Court\r\nof Session\u0026quot; \u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027margin-bottom:.1in;text-align:justify;text-indent:\r\n.2in;mso-pagination:none;page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:\r\nnone;text-autospace:none\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN style=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:\r\nEN\u0027\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0027mso-tab-count:1\u0027\u003e       \u003c/span\u003eThe above referred provision is\r\ndivided in two distinctive clauses. First clause refers the nature of offences\r\ndefined in the Act to be cognizable. Cognizable offence is defined under\r\nSection 4(1)(f) of the Code, which means an offence in which a police officer\r\nmay in accordance with the Code or any other law for the time being in force\r\narrest without warrant as contemplated under Section 54 of the Code. The Code\r\nalso contains definition of non-cognizable offence according to which a police\r\nofficer may not arrest without warrant, if accused is involved in\r\nnon-cognizable offence. The first clause of section 35 of the Act clearly\r\nstipulates that all offences defined in the Act are to be cognizable offences\r\nwithout creating any exception as is found in the Code for the offences\r\nspecified under the Pakistan Penal Code. The second clause, on the other hand,\r\nprescribes the forum of trial i.e. the Court of Sessions, irrespective and\r\nregardless of quantum of sentence of any offence, the trial shall be conducted\r\nby such Court for all purposes.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027margin-bottom:.1in;text-align:justify;text-indent:\r\n.2in;mso-pagination:none;page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:\r\nnone;text-autospace:none\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN style=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:\r\nEN\u0027\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0027mso-tab-count:1\u0027\u003e       \u003c/span\u003eIf section 35 of the Act is\r\nread in conjunction with section 30 of the Code then there exists a glaring\r\nconflict between two provisions. One possible view is that section 30 of the\r\nCode has overriding effect upon section 35 of the Sindh Arms Act by the force\r\nof non obstante clause inserted at the outset of section 30, which says that\r\nnotwithstanding anything contained in sections 28 and 29 of the Code, the\r\nMagistrate vested with section 30 may try all offences not punishable with\r\ndeath. If such view is accepted to be correct interpretation of law then it\r\nwill clearly violate the cardinal rule of interpretation which stipulates that\r\nin case of conflict between general and special law, the latter prevails. This\r\nprinciple is firmly imbedded in our legal system and affirmed, applied and\r\nrestated by superior courts of our country time and again in many authoritative\r\npronouncements. In the case of Muhammad Sharif v. SHO (PLD 1997 Lah. 692), it\r\nwas held that general law, substantive or procedural, is superseded by the\r\nSpecial law of the same category in as much as that special law excluded the\r\ngeneral law. This rule was followed also in the case of Agha Muhammad v.\r\nAdditional Collector Pakistan Coast Guard\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN style=\u0027letter-spacing:\r\n.2pt\u0027\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN style=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:EN\u0027\u003e(2002\r\nCLC 1584). This canon was further reiterated in the case of Muzzaffer Ali v.\r\nMst. Meharunissa (1989 CLC 1805), wherein the honorable Sindh High Court was\r\npleased to observe that recourse to general law is permissible when special law\r\nis silent on a particular point except where the provision of general law is\r\ninconsistent with provision of special law. Where law of a provision is clear\r\nand unambiguous, it should be accepted as such without any hesitation or demur.\r\nWhere specific provision is made in statute as to manner in which powers are to\r\nbe exercised, they should be exercised by authority in manner specified in\r\nstatute and in strict conformity with provisions thereof. Reliance is placed on\r\nthe case of Muhammad Ameen Khan and others v. Muhammad Siddique and another\r\n(1984 PCr.LJ 1580). \u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:\r\n.2in;mso-pagination:none;page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:\r\nnone;text-autospace:none\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN style=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:\r\nEN\u0027\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0027mso-tab-count:1\u0027\u003e       \u003c/span\u003eApart from the conflict between\r\nthe provisions in between general and special law and the resultant effect\r\nthereof as discussed above, if we closely examine the scheme of Code, the\r\nanswer to the proposition is not far to seek within body of the Code itself.\r\nNonetheless, before embarking on the discussion related to other provisions of\r\nthe Code, it would be useful to discuss the fundamental principle of\r\ninterpretation of the Statute, which is applicable in the present context. When\r\ninterpreting any statute, it must be read as a whole to attain the consistency\r\nand cannot be read in isolation. The intention of the legislature in enacting a\r\nstatute ought to be derived from a consideration of the whole enactment in\r\norder to arrive at a consistent plan. It is wrong to start some a priori idea\r\nof that intention and try by construction to wedge it into the words of the\r\nstatute. Reference is invited from the matter of Reference by the President of\r\nPakistan (PLD 1957 SC 219). This statement of rule is based upon Lord\r\nHalsbury\u0027s observations in Leader v. Duffey (1888) 13 AC 294, 301, which reads\r\nas \u0026quot;Every clause of a statute should be construed with reference to the\r\ncontext and other clauses of the Act, so as, as far as possible, to make a\r\nconsistent enactment of the whole statute\u0026quot;. His lordship the Chief Justice\r\nMuhammad Munir was pleased to observe in the above reference that the method of\r\nconstruing statutes is not to take particular words and to attribute to them a\r\nsort of prima facie meaning which you may have to displace or modify. It is\r\nread the statute as a whole and ask one -self the question- \u0026quot;In this\r\nstate, in this context, relating to this subject matter, what is the true\r\nmeaning of that word\u0026quot;. The words of Crawford\u0027s on Statutory Construction\r\non page 258 are worth reproducing \u0026quot;In as much as the language of a statute\r\nconstitutes depository or reservoir of the legislative intent, in order to\r\nascertain or discover that intent, the statute must be considered as a whole,\r\nmust as it is necessary to consider a sentence in its entirety in order to\r\ngrasp its true meaning. \u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027margin-bottom:7.0pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:\r\n.2in;line-height:11.8pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;mso-pagination:none;\r\npage-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:\r\nnone\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN style=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:EN\u0027\u003e\u003cspan\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-tab-count:1\u0027\u003e       \u003c/span\u003eLet\u0027s revert to the discussion by\r\nreferring other provisions of the Code to as to read them all in the present\r\ncontext to resolve the issue. \u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027margin-bottom:7.0pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:\r\n.2in;line-height:11.8pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;mso-pagination:none;\r\npage-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:\r\nnone\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN style=\u0027letter-spacing:.1pt;mso-ansi-language:EN\u0027\u003e\u003cspan\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-tab-count:1\u0027\u003e       \u003c/span\u003eAccording to Section 1(2) of the Code,\r\nwhich deals with \u0027Extent\u0027 of the Code that means scope, limits, boundaries of\r\nthe Code, and how far and to what extent it is appliable. It reads as \u0026quot;It\r\nextends to the whole of Pakistan, but, in absence of any specific provision to\r\nthe contrary, nothing herein contained shall affect any special or local law,\r\nnow in force, or any special jurisdiction or power conferred or any special\r\nform of procedure, prescribed by any other law for the time being in\r\nforce.\u0026quot; This provision in plain terms makes it clear that this Code is\r\napplicable throughout the geographical limits of Pakistan, meaning thereby it\r\nis a federal statute in terms of Article 142 of the Constitution. It further\r\nelaborates that it shall not affect any special or local law in force or\r\nspecial jurisdiction of power conferred on any special forum of prescribed in\r\nother law. In the humble estimation of the author, the \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN\r\nstyle=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:EN\u0027\u003escope and applicability of the\r\nCode is not extendable to any special or local law, where specific procedure is\r\npostulated. If any special Court is specified in other law the same will take\r\nprecedence notwithstanding anything contained in the Code. This provision is to\r\nbe read with every other section of the Code when a question as to the extent,\r\nscope and applicability of the whole Code is agitated. At the beginning of\r\nsections 28 and 29, it is specified that it is \u0027subject to other provisions of\r\nthe Code\u0027 which is not only restricted any particular provision of the Code\r\nlike section 30. If the intention of the legislature was to control sections 28\r\nand 29 of the Code by section 30, it would have been specified in sections 28\r\nand 29 expressly by insertion of section 30 instead of words \u0027subject to other\r\nprovisions of the Code\u0027. Absence of section 30 from qualifying clauses\r\nappearing in sections 28 and 29 inexplicably reveals \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN\r\nstyle=\u0027letter-spacing:.1pt;mso-ansi-language:EN\u0027\u003ethe intention of the\r\nlegislature was not to control these provisions with Section 30 only but with\r\nthe whole Code including section 1(2) of the Code. It unambiguously lays down\r\nthat nothing herein contained shall affect any special or local law in force.\r\nIf any provision is found existing in the special or local law then it must\r\nhave overriding effect over the similar provisions specified in the Code.\r\nIntroduction of new enactment always poses an inquiry to a law student, why new\r\nlaw has been promulgated? And what changes in particular law has been made in\r\nnew enactment. The Act has enhanced punishment and raised forum for trying of\r\nan offence, which was previously triable by Court of Magistrate, using\r\nprovisions of general law to lower the forum of trial provided by special law,\r\nwould defeat the intention of legislature on the one hand and undermine time\r\ntested and well settled principles of interpretation of statutes as discussed\r\nabove. Undoubtedly, the Sindh Arms Act is special \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN\r\nstyle=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:EN\u0027\u003elaw dealing with special\r\nsubject as reflected from its preamble which reads as: \u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;\r\nmargin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.3in;line-height:12.1pt;\r\nmso-line-height-rule:exactly;mso-pagination:none;page-break-after:avoid;\r\ntab-stops:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN\r\nstyle=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:EN\u0027\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0027mso-tab-count:\r\n1\u0027\u003e       \u003c/span\u003e\u0026quot;WHEREAS it is expedient to reform the legislation\r\npertaining to arms and ammunition in the province is being enacted to curb the\r\nproliferation of arms and ammunition, whether licenced or not, which disrupts\r\nthe social harmony and development, vitiates the law and order affairs, and\r\ndirectly contributes to the barbarity of violence. This act envisages to ensure\r\nthat arms licenses are issued to the bona fide persons in the province.\u0026quot; \u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:\r\n.2in;line-height:11.9pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;mso-pagination:none;\r\npage-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:\r\nnone\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN style=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:EN\u0027\u003e\u003cspan\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-tab-count:1\u0027\u003e       \u003c/span\u003eThe subject of the Sindh Arms Act is\r\nrelated to curb proliferation arms and ammunition within province of Sindh.\r\nUndoubtedly, this law falls within the category of special law and shall have\r\npreference, when specific procedure and forum of trial is stipulated therein.\r\nInterestingly, second schedule at the end expressly mentions the schedule for\r\n\u0026quot;Offences against other laws\u0026quot;. According the said part of the\r\nschedule, if offence is punishable with death, imprisonment for life, or\r\nimprisonment exceeding seven years, the same offence is triable by the Court of\r\nSessions. But when offence under other law, if punishable with imprisonment for\r\nthree years and upward but not exceeding seven years the same is triable by the\r\nMagistrate. At the time the Sindh Arms Act was enacted the legislature was well\r\ncognizant to the state of existing procedural law, which is of course the Code\r\nof Criminal Procedure 1898, in which forum of trial of offences against other\r\nlaws was clearly specified. Nonetheless, the legislature made it clear that all\r\noffences under the Sindh Arms Act shall be cognizable and triable by the Court\r\nof Sessions. It is for this reason that Section 1(2) provides nothing herein\r\ncontained shall affect any special or local law, now in force, or any special\r\njurisdiction or power conferred or any special form of procedure, prescribed by\r\nany other law for the time being in force.\u0026quot; Once special law provides a\r\nseparate forum for trial of such offences it will have precedence over any\r\nother forum provided by ordinary law.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027margin-bottom:.1in;text-align:justify;text-indent:\r\n.2in;line-height:11.9pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;mso-pagination:none;\r\npage-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:\r\nnone\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN style=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:EN\u0027\u003e\u003cspan\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-tab-count:1\u0027\u003e       \u003c/span\u003eSimilarly, Section 5(2) of the Code which\r\nfalls within the heading of \u0026quot;Trial of offences against other laws\u0026quot;\r\narticulates that all offences under any other law shall be investigated,\r\nenquired into, tried, and otherwise dealt with according to the same\r\nprovisions, but subject to any enactment for the time being in force regulating\r\nthe manner or place of investigating, inquiring into, trying or otherwise\r\ndealing with such offences. This provision further clarifies that offences\r\nagainst any other law, apart from the Pakistan Penal Code, shall be tried and\r\ndealt with according to the Code but subject to any enactment for the time of\r\nbeing in force. It simply stipulates that the procedure provided in the Code\r\nshall be applicable to other laws as a matter of rule but where specific\r\nprovision dealing with investigation, inquiry or trial is provided in any other\r\nlaw, the same shall take precedence. Likewise, Section 34 of the Act, deals\r\nwith arrest and searches. The Code also contains provisions related to arrest\r\nin section 46 and searches under sections 100 to 103 of the Code. Section 34(a)\r\nof the Act says that all arrests and searches under this Act or under any rules\r\nshall be executed in line with the provisions of Code of Criminal Procedure\r\nexcept section 103 of the Code. In this provision the exclusion of section 103\r\nof the Code from the operation of the Act is made in express terms, which is\r\nstrictly in accordance with sections 1(2) and 5(2) of the Code. Similarly,\r\nsection 35 of the Act clearly stipulates that all offences shall be triable by\r\nthe Court of Session, without creating any ambiguity as to forum of trial. If,\r\nfor the sake of discussion, the Sindh Arms Act, had not provided the forum of\r\ntrial of offences then in such case the procedure provided under the Code would\r\nhave been applicable mutatis mutandis and Magistrate vested with jurisdiction\r\nunder section 30 would have been competent to try the same. Since the specific\r\nforum of trial has been provided therefore, the trial shall be conducted by the\r\nCourt of Sessions and not by any Magistrate vested with jurisdiction under\r\nsection 30 of the Code.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027margin-bottom:.1in;text-align:justify;text-indent:\r\n.2in;mso-pagination:none;page-break-after:avoid;tab-stops:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:\r\nnone;text-autospace:none\u0027\u003e\u003cspan lang=EN style=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt;mso-ansi-language:\r\nEN\u0027\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0027mso-tab-count:1\u0027\u003e       \u003c/span\u003eTo conclude, from the preceding\r\ndiscussion and comparative analysis of various provisions, it transpires that\r\nthe Sindh Arms Act has expressly and category specified a forum for trial of\r\nall offences without stipulating anything to suggest that Magistrate vested\r\nwith jurisdiction under section 30 of the Code may try such offences.\r\nTherefore, the legislative will have to be enforced strictly in accordance with\r\nthe mandate of the Constitution as ordained under Article 175(2) of the\r\nConstitution reads as no court shall have jurisdiction save as is or may be\r\nconferred by the Constitution or by or under any law. It is now well-settled\r\nprinciple of interpretation of law that all statutory provisions have to be\r\ninterpretated harmoniously and consistently with the Constitution, the\r\nparamount law. Reference is cited from the case of the State v. Qaim Ali Shah\r\n(1992 SCMR 2192). If Magistrate under Section 30 is held to be competent to try\r\noffences under the Sindh Arms Act, it would be inconsistent to the\r\nConstitution, which stipulates in stronger terms that no court shall have\r\njurisdiction except as is conferred by law. This will also be in conflict with\r\nother provisions of the Code. In order to make harmonious construction of the\r\nprovisions it must be construed that power of Magistrate under Section 30 of\r\nthe Code is subject to Sections 1(2) and 5(2) of the Code read with Section 35\r\nof the Sindh Arms Act. The Magistrate under Section 30 may try all offences not\r\npunishable death under the Pakistan Penal Code and offence against under other\r\nlaws on the sole condition that no specific forum of trial is contemplated in\r\nany other law for the time being in force. In this way conflict between various\r\nprovisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure could be avoided and harmonious\r\nconstruction of the law is made and at the same time will of the legislature as\r\nset out in the special law could be enforced.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003c/body\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003c/html\u003e\r\n"