Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 — Section 131: Power of commissioned military officers to disperse assembly

131. Power of commissioned military officers to disperse assembly. When the public security is manifestly endangered by any such assembly, and when 8[a police officer of the highest rank not below an Assistant Superintendent, or Deputy Superintendent, of Police] can be communicated with, any commissioned officer of 11[the Pakistan] Army may disperse such assembly by military force, and may arrest and confine any persons forming part of it, in order to disperse such assembly or that they may be punished according to law; but if, while he is acting under this section, it becomes practicable for him to communicate with 8[a police officer not below the rank of Assistant Superintendent, or Deputy Superintendent, of Police], he shall do so, and shall thenceforward obey the instructions of 8[such Police officer] as to whether he shall or shall not continue such action. 1 [131A. Power to use military force for public security and maintenance of law and order.__ (1) If the Provincial Government is satisfied that, for the public security, protection of life and property, public peace and the maintenance of law and order, it is necessary to secure the assistance of the armed forces or civil armed forces, the Provincial Government may required, with the prior approval of the Federal Government, or the Federal Government may on its own or on the request of the Provincial Government, direct any officer of the armed forces or civil armed forces not below the rank of a JCO or equivelant to render such assistance with the help of the forces under his command, and such assistance shall include the exercise of powers specified in sections 46 to 49, 53, 54, 55 (a) (c), 58, 61, 64 to 67, 102 and 103 for a particular area defined in the notification for a limited period of thirty days extendable by another period of thirty days, as the circumstances may warrant: Provided that such powers shall not included the powers of a Magistrate.

(2)Every such officer shall obey such requisition or direction, as the case may be, and in doing so may use such force as the circumstances may require.

(3)In rendering assistance relating to exercise of powers specified in sub-section (1), every officer shall, as far as may be, follow the restrictions and conditions laid down in the Code.]