Pakistan law · 1984
Qanun-e-Shahadat Order, 1984
Pakistan's principal law of evidence, governing relevance, admissibility, proof, witnesses, documents, and presumptions.
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Original explanation
About this law
The Qanun-e-Shahadat Order governs the relevance and proof of facts in judicial proceedings. It addresses witnesses, professional privileges, admissions, confessions, documentary and oral evidence, presumptions, burden of proof, estoppel, and examination of witnesses.
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Structure
Table of contents and important chapters
Witnesses and privileges
Competence, number of witnesses, judicial privilege, marital communications, legal professional privilege, and official communications.
Relevancy of facts
Facts in issue, connected facts, motive, conduct, conspiracy, damages, custom, intention, and similar occurrences.
Admissions and confessions
Admissions, civil settlements, involuntary confessions, police custody, discovery, and co-accused confessions.
Statements by unavailable persons
Dying declarations, business records, statements against interest, pedigree, public rights, and former testimony.
Oral and documentary evidence
Primary and secondary evidence, public documents, electronic documents, presumptions, and exclusion of oral variation.
Burden of proof and estoppel
General and special burdens, facts within knowledge, presumptions, legitimacy, and estoppel.
Examination of witnesses
Order of production, examination-in-chief, cross-examination, re-examination, impeachment, corroboration, and judicial questions.
Focused research
Important Articles and sections
Confessions and discovery
Involuntary confessions, confessions to police, police custody, and the discovery exception.
Read Articles 37–40Primary source
Official publication and local research copy
The Pakistan Code portal carries a general review notice; verify later Gazette amendments.
Last source verification: 2026-07-13
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