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Updated till 15.11.2021
THE EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCES ACT, 1908
CONTENTS
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SECTIONS:
1. Short title, and extent.
2. Definition of “explosive substance”.
3. Punishment for causing explosion likely to endanger life or property.
4. Punishment for attempt to cause explosion, or for making or keeping explosive with
intent to endanger life or property.
5. Punishment for making or possessing explosives under suspicious circumstances.
5A. Forfeiture of property.
6. Punishment of abettors.
7. Restriction on trial of offences.
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THE EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCES ACT, 1908
1ACT No. VI OF 1908
[8th June, 1908]
An Act further to amend the law relating to explosive substances
WHEREAS it is necessary further to amend the law relating to explosive substances ; It is hereby
enacted as follows :___
1. Short title, and extent.___(1) This Act may be called the Explosive Substances Act,1908.
2
[(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan.]
2. Definition of “explosive substance”. In this Act the expression “explosive substance” shall
be deemed to include any materials for making any explosive substance ; also any apparatus, machine
implement or material used, or intended to be used, or adapted for causing, or aiding in causing, any
explosion in or with any explosive substance; also any part of any such apparatus, machine or
implement.
3. Punishment for causing explosion likely to endanger life or property. Any person who
unlawfully and maliciously causes by any explosive substance an explosion of a nature likely to
endanger life or to cause serious injury to property shall, whether any injury to person or property has
been actually caused or not, be punished with 3[death or imprisonment for life].
4. Punishment for attempt to cause explosion, or for making or keeping explosive with
intent to endanger life or property.___ Any person who unlawfully and maliciously___
1
For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Gazette of India, 1908, Pt. V, p. 170, and for Proceedings in Council, see ibid., Pt. VI, p. 128.
This Act has been declared to be in force in Baluchistan by notification under section 5 of the Scheduled Districts Act, 1874 (14 of 1874), see
Gazette of India, 1931, Pt. II-A, p. 358 ;
It has been applied to___
(1) Phulera in the Excluded Area of Upper Tanawal to the extent the Act is applicable in the N.W.F.P., see N.W.F.P. (Upper Tanawal) (Excluded
Area) Laws Regulation, 1950).
It has also been extended to the Excluded Area of Upper Tanawal other than Phulera by the N.W.F.P. (Upper TanawaI) (Excluded Area) Laws
Regulation, 1950 and declared to be in force in that area with effect from the 1st June, 1951, see N.W.F.P. Gazette, Extraordinary, dated the 1st June ,1951.
It has also been extended to the Leased Areas of Baluchistan, Leased Areas (Laws) Order, 1950 (G. G. O. 3 of 1950), and applied Federated
Areas of Baluchistan, see Gazette of India, 1937, Pt. I. p. 1499.
2
Subs. by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (21 of 1960), s. 3 and 2nd Sch. (with effect from the 14th October, 1955), for the
original sub-section (2), as amended by A. O., 1949.
3
Subs. by the Explosive Substances (Amdt.) Act, 1975 (40 of 1975), s. 21, for “transportation for life or any shorter term, to which fine may be
added, or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, to which fine may be added”.
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(a) does any act with intent to cause by an explosive substance, or conspires to cause
by an explosive substance, an explosion in 1[Pakistan] of a nature likely to en-
danger life or to cause serious injury to property ; or
(b) makes or has in his possession or under his control any explosive substance with
intent by means thereof to endanger life, or cause serious injury to property in
1
[Pakistan], or to enable any other person by means thereof to endanger life or
cause serious injury to property in 1[Pakistan] ;
shall, whether any explosion does or does not take place and whether any injury to person or property
has been actually caused or not, be punished with 2[imprisonment for life or any shorter term which shall
not be less than seven years].
5. Punishment for making or possessing explosives under suspicious circumstances. Any
person who makes or knowingly has in his possession or under his control any explosive substance,
under such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable suspicion that he is not making it or does not
have it in his possession or under his control for a lawful object, shall, unless he can show that he made
it or had it in his possession or under his control for a lawful object, be punishable with 3[imprisonment
for a term which may extend to fourteen years].
4[5A. Forfeiture of property. A Court convicting a person for an offence against this Act shall
direct that the whole of his property shall stand forfeited to Government.]
6. Punishment of abettors. Any person who by the supply of or solicitation for money, the
providing of premises, the supply of materials, or in any manner whatsoever, procures, counsels, aids,
abets, or is accessory to, the commission of any offence under this Act shall be punished with the
punishment provided for the offence.
7. Restriction on trial of offences. No Court shall proceed to the trial of any person for an
offence against this Act except with the consent of 5 * * * the 6[Provincial Government] 7[to which
intimation shall be sent within two days of the registration of the case] 7[:]
7
[Provided that if the consent is neither received nor refused within sixty days of the registration
of case by the Government such consent shall be deemed to have been duly given.]
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1
Subs. by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (21of 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, for “Birtish India”.
2
Subs. by the Explosive Substances (Amdt.) Act, 1975 (40 of 1975), s. 3 for “transportation for a term which may extend to twenty years, to
which fine may be added, or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, to which fine may be added”.
3
Subs. ibid., s. 4, for “transportation for a term which may extend to fourteen years, to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment for a term
which may extend to five years, to which fine may be added”.
4
Section 5A Ins. ibid., s. 5.
5
The words “the L. G. or” omitted by A. O., 1937.
6
Subs. by A O., 1964, Art. 2 and Sch., for “Central Government” which had been subs. by A.O., 1937, for “G.G. in C,”.
7
Added and subs. by Act No. XVI of 2017, s.2.
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Source: Pakistan Code, Ministry of Law and Justice (pakistancode.gov.pk). Text on this page is reproduced verbatim from the official PDF and is provided for reference only. For the authoritative version, always consult the source document or a current reported edition.
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