(1) There shall be full freedom of speech in both Houses of the Federal
Parliament; and no member shall be arrested, detained or prosecuted in any court
for anything expressed or any vote cast by him or her in the House.
(2) Each House of the Federal Parliament shall, subject to this
Constitution, have full power to regulate and decide its internal business, and the
concerned House shall have the exclusive right to decide whether or not any of its
proceedings is regular or irregular. No question shall be raised in any court in this
behalf.
(3) No comment shall be made about the good faith concerning any
proceeding of any House of the Federal Parliament, and no publication and
broadcasting of any kind shall be made about anything said by any member,
intentionally distorting or misinterpreting the meaning of the speech.
(4) The provisions of clauses (1) and (3) shall also apply to other
persons who are entitled to participate in the meetings of the House than the
members of the Federal Parliament.
(5) No proceedings shall be initiated in any court against any person in
respect of the publication, under the authority granted by any House of the Federal
Parliament, of any document, report, vote or proceeding.
Explanation: For the purposes of this clause and clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4),
“House” means the House of Representatives or the National Assembly, and
includes a joint sitting or committee or joint committee of the Federal Parliament.
(6) No member of the Federal Parliament shall be arrested during the
period from the issuance of a notice summoning the session to its prorogation.
Provided that nothing in this clause shall be deemed to bar the arresting
under the Federal law of any member on a criminal charge. If any member is so
arrested, the authority making such arrest shall forthwith give information thereof
to the person presiding over the concerned House.
(7) Any breach of the privileges shall be deemed to constitute contempt
of the Federal Parliament, and the concerned House shall have the exclusive right
to decide whether any privilege has been breached.
(8) If any person is in contempt of any House, the person presiding over
the concerned House may, after a decision by the House to that effect, admonish,
warn or impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months
or of a fine not exceeding ten thousand rupees on such person, andsuch fine shall
be recovered as a government due.
Provided that if such person apologies to the satisfaction of the concerned
House, it may pardon, remit or commute the sentence imposed on, him or her.
(9) Other matters relating to the privileges of the Federal Parliament
shall be as provided for in the Federal law.