: Does not apply to proceedings before an arbitrator. 2. Competency of Witnesses (گواہ کی اہلیت)
The is the cornerstone of evidence law in Pakistan, and having a Urdu PDF version is an essential resource for students, legal practitioners, and the general public. This document replaced the Evidence Act of 1872 to align legal proceedings with Islamic principles as laid down in the Holy Quran and Sunnah. Comprehensive Review of Qanoon-e-Shahadat (Urdu PDF)
Before 1984, the law of evidence in Pakistan was governed by the Evidence Act of 1872, drafted by Sir James Fitzjames Stephen. The 1872 Act was a masterpiece of codification that standardized English common law principles regarding evidence.
| Point | Qanoon-e-Shahadat 1984 (Pakistan) | Indian Evidence Act 1872 (India) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Article 17 – Four witnesses for Zina | No such article | | Expert Opinion | Article 59 – Added "fingerprints, voice spectrography" | Section 45 – Narrower scope | | Confession to Police | Article 43 – Confession to police not admissible if induced | Section 25 – Similar but no Islamic exception | | Computer Generated Evidence | Article 164 (added 2002) – Admissible subject to conditions | Section 65B – More detailed procedure |
The responsibility to prove a fact rests on the person who asserts its existence.
: The most authentic source for federal laws. You can search for the "Qanun-e-Shahadat Order" in their digital repository .