Pakistan Institute of International Affairs (Administration) Ordinance, 1980

This 1980 Ordinance was issued to take over management of the Pakistan Institute of International Affairs, a body registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. It was promulgated by the President under the martial-law-era Laws (Continuance in Force) Order, 1977, on the basis that immediate action was necessary.

Section 4 dissolves the Institute's governing Council with immediate effect: anyone previously exercising power over the Institute loses that authority, and all of the Institute's assets, property, cash, investments, debts, contracts, and pending lawsuits transfer to a newly appointed Administrator. Section 5 has the Federal Government appoint this Administrator, along with a Managing Committee to advise and assist. The Administrator is treated as a "corporation sole" who can sue and be sued in that capacity, and neither the Administrator nor Committee members are personally liable for the Institute's debts or contracts.

Section 6 requires the Administrator, within six months, to propose to the Federal Government a plan for the Institute's future organisational setup, financial viability, and recovery of outstanding dues — signalling that the takeover was meant to fix a struggling institution rather than dissolve it permanently. Section 7 keeps existing employees on their same terms unless the Administrator directs otherwise.

Sections 8 and 9 bar courts from granting injunctions or entertaining proceedings against actions taken in good faith under the Ordinance, and indemnify the Government, Administrator, and others from suits over such actions. Sections 10 and 11 give the Federal Government rule-making power and the ability to resolve difficulties in applying the Ordinance. As a martial-law-era administrative takeover law, its substantive relevance today depends on whether the Institute's governance has since reverted to normal Societies Registration Act arrangements.