The Diplomatic Immunities (Conferences with Common wealth Countries) Act, 1963

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     THE DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITIES (CONFERENCES WITH
          COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES) ACT, 1963



                                        CONTENTS
1.   Short title, extent and commencement

2.   Definitions

3.   Application of Act reciprocal

4.   Compilation and Publication of lists

5.   Diplomatic Immunities of Commonwealth Representatives attending Conferences in Pakistan

6.   List to be conclusive proof of right to Immunities




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                    THE DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITIES (CONFERENCES WITH
                         COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES) ACT, 1963
                                                            ACT No. II of 1963
                                                                                               [3rd April, 1963]

            An Act to provide for conferring certain immunities on representatives of governments of
             Commonwealth countries attending conferences in Pakistan and on their official staffs.

        WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for conferring certain immunities on representatives of
Governments of Commonwealth countries attending conferences in Pakistan and on their official
staffs;
        It is hereby enacted as follows:—

     1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Diplomatic
Immunities (Conferences with Commonwealth Countries) Act, 1963.

              (2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan.

              (3) It shall come into force at once.

              2. Definitions.—In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,—

                         (a)       “envoy” means the envoy of a foreign sovereign power duly accredited in
                                   Pakistan;

                         (b)       “list” means a list compiled and published under section 4, and includes any
                                   amendment of such list ;

                         (c)       “official staff” means officials employed directly under the orders of a
                                   representative included in a list ;

                         (d)       “Secretary” means the Secretary to the Government of Pakistan in the
                                   Ministry concerned with the convening or sponsoring of a conference.

        3. Application of Act reciprocal.—If the 1[Federal Government] is satisfied that the govern-
ment of any country within the Commonwealth has made provision for extending to the
representatives of the Government of Pakistan attending conferences in that country and their official
staff immunities similar to those provided for in this Act, it may, by notification in the official
Gazette, declare that this Act applies to such country, and thereupon the provisions of this Act shall
during the period such notification remains in force, apply accordingly.

       4. Compilation and Publication of lists.__ (1) Where a conference is held in Pakistan and is
attended by representatives of the Government of Pakistan and of the government or governments of
one or more countries to which this Act applies, the Secretary shall compile, and cause to be
published in the official Gazette, a list of the representatives of such government or governments and
members of their official staffs, showing separately—


1
    Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government”.



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               (a)     the representatives ; and

               (b)     the members of the official staffs—

                       (i)    who are not citizens of Pakistan, or who are not deemed to be such
                              citizens ; and

                       (ii)   who are, or are deemed to be, such citizens.


         (2) Whenever it appears to the Secretary that any person ceases or begins to be qualified for
inclusion in a list, he may amend the list and cause the amendment, or, if he thinks fit, an amended
list, to be published in the official Gazette.

       (3) Every list or amendment published under this section in relation to any conference shall
include a statement of the date from which the list or amendment takes or took effect.

       5. Diplomatic Immunities of Commonwealth Representatives attending Conferences in
Pakistan.—(1) Every representative who is for the time being included in a list shall, subject to the
provisions of sub-section (3), be entitled to the immunity from suit and legal process, and to the
inviolability of residence, official premises and official archives, to which he would be entitled if he
were an envoy.

        (2) Every member of the official staff who is for the time being included in a list shall,
subject to the provisions of sub-section (3), be entitled to the immunity from suit and legal process to
which he would be entitled if the representative under whose orders he is employed were an envoy.

        (3) Where a representative or a member of an official staff is or is deemed to be a citizen of
Pakistan, he shall not, except in respect of things done or omitted to be done in the course of the
performance of his duties as such representative or member, be entitled to the immunity mentioned
in sub-section (1) or, as the case may be, sub-section (2).

       6. List to be conclusive proof of right to Immunities.— If any question arises as to whether
any person is or was included or not included at any time among the persons entitled to any
immunity under this Act, the official Gazette containing the list as effective for the time being, shall
be conclusive proof of the fact that the person is or was so included or not so included.

                                            ____________




                                                                                   Dated: - 04.01.2024

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