Reservists (Reinstatement in Civil Employment) Ordinance, 1965

This 1965 Ordinance protects the civilian jobs of military reservists who are called up for active service or training. Section 2 defines "reservist" by reference to the Pakistan (Army and Air Force) Reserves Act, 1950, and also covers anyone liable to be recalled after retirement, release or discharge under rules made under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, Pakistan Air Force Act, 1953, or Pakistan Navy Ordinance, 1961.

Section 3 is the core protection: notwithstanding any other law or contract, a reservist called up for service or training is entitled, once that service ends, to be reinstated in the job they held before being called up -- or, if that's not possible, to be given employment no less favourable. However, this right requires the reservist to apply or report back to the employer within three months of being released from service. If reinstatement isn't practical, the employer must apply to the Federal Government (or an authorised body) within ten days of the reservist's application, requesting an exemption, and send a copy to the reservist. The government then investigates and either grants the exemption or orders the employer to reinstate/employ the reservist on specified terms.

If an employer violates the reinstatement duty or fails to comply with a government order, Section 3(4) sets the penalty: imprisonment up to six months, a fine up to ten thousand rupees, or both, plus a court-ordered compensation payment to the reservist equal to six months' pay at the rate they earned when released. Section 3(4A), added later, extends liability to company directors, managers, secretaries or other officers if the employer is a corporate body, unless they can show they exercised due diligence to prevent the violation.

Section 4 bars any court from questioning orders or proceedings made under the Ordinance. Section 5 gives the Federal Government rule-making power. This remains a functionally significant protection for reservists' civilian employment rights; the fine and compensation figures date from the Ordinance's era and amendments, and should be checked against the current official text.