CrPC § 356 — Record in other cases

Statutory text (English)

(1) 3[In trials before Courts of Session and in inquiries under
Chapter XII], the evidence of each witness shall be taken down in writing in the language of the
Court by the Magistrate or Sessions Judge, or in his presence and hearing and under his personal
direction and superintendence and shall be signed by the Magistrate or Sessions Judge.

(2) Evidence given in English. When the evidence of such witness is given in English, the
Magistrate or Sessions Judge may take it down in that language with his own hand, and, unless the
accused is familiar with English, or the language of the Court is English, an authenticated translation
of such evidence in the language of the Court shall form part of the record.
4[(2A) When the evidence of such witness is given in any other language, not being English,
than the language of the Court, the Magistrate or Sessions Judge may take it down in that language
with his own hand, or cause it to be taken down in that language in his presence and hearing and
under his personal direction and superintendence, and an authenticated translation of such evidence
in the language of the Court or in English shall form part of the record.]

(3) Memorandum when evidence not taken down by the Magistrate or Judge himself. In
cases in which the evidence is not taken down in writing by the Magistrate or Sessions Judge, he
shall, as the examination of each witness proceeds, make a memorandum of the substance of what
such witness deposes; and such memorandum shall be written and signed by the Magistrate or
Sessions Judge with his own hand, and shall form part of the record.

(4) If the Magistrate or Sessions Judge is prevented from making a memorandum as above
required, he shall record the reason of his inability to make it.

Source and verification

Source citation: CrPC (Act V of 1898) s.356: Pakistan Code portal consolidated official PDF 'THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE' (Act No. V of 1898, last amended 2017-02-16), p. 136, ingested 2026-09-15. Automated transcription from official source (pypdf extraction, audited artifact repair); human admin re-check required before production.

Verification status: verified · Text status: auto_transcribed_verified_source

The record cites an official source, but its transcription is automated or only partly checked; a human re-check is pending.

Official Urdu text status: pending_official_urdu_text. Where official Urdu wording has not been sourced, Qanoon does not substitute an unverified translation for the statutory text.

Historical text notes

1 historical record is linked to this section. Historical wording may be incomplete or pending verification; it is not presented as current law.

• Date not confirmed: Consolidated current text as published in the official Pakistan Code PDF (p. 136) — reflects all amendments recorded in the official footnotes up to ingest date 2026-09-15. Automated transcription; per-amendment…

Read this provision with care

This is a public reference to a stored statute record, not legal advice or a case-specific interpretation. Check the latest official gazette, applicable amendments and jurisdiction before relying on the text. A citation and verification label describe the record in this app; they cannot confirm that no later change has occurred. For a real legal matter, consult a licensed advocate.

Use the full CrPC section index to compare nearby provisions, or return to search.