# High Treason (Punishment) Act, 1973

> Unofficial digital reference edition. Consult the official sources or Gazette when legal accuracy is material.

- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Subject:** Criminal justice and public safety
- **Instrument type:** Act
- **Citation:** Act No. LXVIII of 1973
- **Enacted:** 1973-09-26
- **Catalogue verified:** 2026-09-23
- **Canonical HTML:** [View the formatted edition](https://law.legumlawfirm.co/High-Treason-Punishment-Act/)
- **Latest amendment:** No subsequent amending enactment identified through 23 September 2026.

## Content

### Sections

- 1. Short title, extent and commencement.
- 2. Punishment for high treason, etc.
- 3. Procedure.

[26th September, 1973]

An Act to provide for the punishment of persons found guilty of acts of abrogation or subversion of a Constitution or of high treason

WHEREAS it is necessary to provide for the punishment of persons found guilty of acts of abrogation or subversion of a Constitution or of high treason;

It is hereby enacted as follows:—

### 1. Short title, extent and commencement.

(1) This Act may be called the High Treason (Punishment) Act, 1973.

(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan.

(3) It shall come into force at once.

### 2. Punishment for high treason, etc.

A person who is found guilty—

(a) of having committed an act of abrogation or subversion of a Constitution in force in Pakistan at any time since the twenty-third day of March, 1956, or

(b) of high treason as defined in Article 6 of the Constitution, shall be punishable with death or imprisonment for life.

### 3. Procedure.

No court shall take cognizance of an offence punishable under this Act except upon a complaint in writing made by a person authorised by the Federal Government in this behalf.

## Accuracy notice

This digital version of the High Treason (Punishment) Act, 1973 is provided as-is. Although reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy and avoid error, no warranty is made as to its accuracy or completeness. Consult the official sources or Gazette when legal accuracy is material.