QSO 1984 § Article 2 — Interpretation

Statutory text (English)

(1) In this Order, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,
—
(a) "Court" includes all Judges and Magistrates, and all persons, except arbitrators, legally
authorised to take evidence;
(b) "document" means any matter expressed or described upon any substance by means of
letters, figures or marks, or by more than one of those means, intended to be used, or
which may be used, for the purpose of recording that matter;
Illustrations
A writing is a document;
Words printed, lithographed or photographed are documents ;
A map or plan is a document;
An inscription on a metal plate or stone is a document ;
A caricature is a document.
(c) "evidence" includes:—
(i) all statements which the Court permits or requires to be made before it by witnesses,
in relation to matters of fact under inquiry ; such statements are called oral evidence
; and
(ii) all documents produced for the inspection of the Court; such documents are called
documentary evidence ;
(d) "fact" includes—
(i) anything, state of things, or relation of things capable, of being perceived by the
senses; and
(ii) any mental condition of which any person is conscious.
1"(e) the expression, “automated”, “electronic”, “information”, information system”].
Electronic document”, “electronic signature”, “advanced electronic signature” and
“security procedure”, shall bear the meanings given in the Electronic Transactions
Ordinance, 2002;
(f) the expression “ certificate”, where the context so admits, includes the meaning given to it
in the Electronic Transactions Ordinance, 2002.
Illustrations
(a) That there are certain objects arranged in a certain order in a certain place, is a fact.
(b) That a man heard or saw something, is a fact.
(c) That a man said certain words, is a fact.
(d) That a man holds a certain opinion, has a certain intention, acts in good faith
or fraudulently, or uses a particular word in a particular sense, or is or was at
a specified time conscious of a particular sensation,is a fact.
(e) That a man has a certain reputation, is a fact.

(2) One fact is said to be relevant to another when the one is connected with the
other in any of the ways referred to in the provisions of this Order relating to the
relevancy of facts.

(3) The expression "facts in issue" includes any fact from which, either by itself or in
connection with other facts, the existence, non-existence, nature or extent of any right,
liability, or disability, asserted or denied in any suit or proceeding, necessarily follows.
Explanation:—Whenever, under the provisions of the law for the time being in force
relating to civil procedure, any Court records an issue of fact, the fact to be asserted or
denied in the answer to such issue is a fact in issue.
Illustrations
A is accused of the murder of B.
At his trial the following facts may be in issue:—
that A caused B's death ;
that A had intended to cause B's death ;
that A had received grave sudden provocation from B ;
that A, at the time of doing the act which caused B's death, was by reason of
unsoundness of mind, incapable of knowing its nature.

(4) A fact is said to be proved when, after considering the matters before it, the
Court either believes it to exist, or considers its existence so probable that a prudent
man ought, under the circumstances of the particular case, to act upon the supposition
that it exists.

(5) A fact is said to be disproved when, after considering the matters before it, the
Court either believes that it does not exist, or considers its existence so probable that a
prudent man ought, under the circumstances of the particular case, to act upon the
supposition that it does not exist.

(6) A fact is said not to be proved when it is neither proved nor disproved.

(7) Whenever it is provided by this Order that the Court may presume a fact, it may
either regard such fact as proved, unless and until it is disproved, or may call for proof
of it.

(8) Whenever it is directed by this Order that the Court shall presume a fact, it shall
regard such fact as proved, unless and until it is disproved.

(9) When one fact is declared by this Order to be conclusive proof of another, the
Court shall, on proof of the one fact, regard the other as proved, and shall not allow
evidence to be given for the purpose of disproving it.

Source and verification

Source citation: Qanun-e-Shahadat Order, 1984 (P.O. No. X of 1984) Art. 2: Pakistan Code portal consolidated official PDF 'THE QANUN-E-SHAHADAT ORDER 1984 (LAW OF EVIDENCE)' (P.O. No. X of 1984, last amended 2017-02-16 incl. Act No. IV of 2017), p. 7, 8, 9, 10, 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. 7, 8, 9, 10) — reflects all amendments recorded in the official footnotes up to ingest date 2026-09-15. Automated transcription;…

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