Islamabad (Preservation of Landscape) Ordinance, 1966

This 1966 Ordinance protects the natural landscape of Islamabad Capital Territory from being damaged or altered, under the authority of the Capital Development Authority (CDA). Section 2 defines "landscape" very broadly to include earth, rock, boulders, grass, bushes, trees and "all objects of natural beauty visible to the eye," and ties other terms to the Capital Development Authority Ordinance, 1960. Section 3 makes clear this law works alongside, not instead of, the CDA Ordinance and Pakistan Capital Regulation, and overrides any conflicting law.

Section 4 is the core prohibition: no one may remove, destroy, damage or alter anything, or do anything else, that injuriously affects (or is likely to affect) the landscape -- except when done by, or with permission from, the Authority (i.e., the CDA). Section 5 sets the penalty for violating this or any rule made under the Ordinance: imprisonment up to six months, a fine up to five thousand rupees, or both.

Section 6 gives police officers, or officers appointed by the Authority, power to arrest without a warrant anyone caught violating the Ordinance or reasonably suspected of doing so, though the arrested person must promptly be brought before a Magistrate or police station. Section 7 requires a written report from the Authority (or someone it authorises) before any court can take up a case, and lets the Authority compound (settle) an offence for a sum of money instead of prosecuting. Section 8 requires offences to be tried summarily under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898. Section 9 gives Authority officers powers to investigate offences, enter land or buildings, and compel witness attendance and document production like a civil court. Section 10 allows requisitioning police assistance when needed.

Section 11 deems Authority officers and other persons acting under the Ordinance to be public servants under the Pakistan Penal Code. Sections 12 and 13 protect good-faith actions from lawsuits and bar courts from questioning anything done under the Ordinance. Section 14 lets the Federal Government exempt areas or land classes from the Ordinance, and Section 15 gives rule-making power. This is a still-relevant law for landscape and environmental protection specific to Islamabad; the penalty figures date from 1966 and should be checked against the current official text.