QSO 1984 § Article 21 — Motive, preparation and previous or subsequent conduct

Statutory text (English)

(1) Any fact is
relevant which shows or constitutes a motive or preparation for any fact in issue or relevant
fact.

(2) The conduct of any party, or of any agent to any party, to any suit or proceeding,
in reference to such suit or proceeding, or in reference to any fact in issue therein or
relevant thereto, and the conduct of any person an offence against whom is the subject
of any proceeding, is relevant, if such conduct influences or is influenced by any fact in
issue or relevant fact, and whether it was previous or subsequent thereto.

Explanation 1.—The word "conduct" in this clause does not include statements,
unless those statements accompany and explain acts other than statements but this
explanation is not to affect the relevancy of statements under any other Article of this
Order.

Explanation 2.—When the conduct of any person is relevant, any statement made to
him or in his presence and hearing, which affects such conduct, is relevant.
Illustrations
(a) A is tried for the murder of B.
The facts that A murdered C, that B knew that A had murdered C, and that B
had tried to extort money from A by threatening to make his knowledge
public, are relevant.
(b) A sues B upon a bond for the payment of money, B denies the making of the
bond.
The fact that, at the time when the bond was alleged to be made, B required
money for a particular purpose, is relevant.
(c) A is tried for the murder of B by poison the fact that, before the death of B, A
procured poison similar to that which was administered to B, is relevant.
(d) The question is whether a certain document is the will of A.
The facts that, not long before the date of the alleged will A made inquiry into
matters to which the provisions of the alleged will relate, that he consulted
advocates in reference to making the will, and that he caused drafts of other
wills to be prepared of which he did not approve, are relevant.
(e) A is accused of a crime.
The facts that, either before or at the time of, or after the alleged crime, A
provided evidence which would tend to give to the facts of the case an appearance
favourable to himself, or that he destroyed or concealed evidence or
prevented the presence or procured the absence of persons who might have been
witnesses, or suborned persons to give false evidence respecting it, are relevant.
(f) The question is whether A robbed B.
The facts that, after B was robbed, C said in A's presence;
"the Police are coming to look for the man who robbed B", and that immediately
afterwards A ran away, are relevant.
(g) The question is whether A owes B rupees 10,000.
The facts that A asked C to lend him money, and that D said to C in A's presence
and hearing: "I advise you not to trust A, for he owes B 10,000 rupees", and that A
went away without making any answer, are relevant facts.
(h) The question is, whether A committed a crime.
The facts that A absconded after receiving a letter warning him that inquiry was
being made for the criminal, and the contents of the letter, are relevant.
(i) A is accused of a crime.
The facts that, after the commission of the alleged crime, he absconded, or was in
possession of property or the proceeds of property acquired by the crime, or
attempted to conceal things which were or might have been used in committing it,
are relevant.
(j) The question is whether A was ravished.
The facts, that shortly after the alleged rape, she made a complaint relating to the
crime, the circumstances under which, and the terms in which, the complaint was
made are relevant.
The fact that, without making a complaint, she said, that she had been ravished is
not relevant as conduct under this Article though it may be relevant as a dying
declaration under Article 46, paragraph

(1), or as corroborative evidence under
Article 153.
(k) The question is, whether A was robbed.
The fact that, soon after the alleged robbery, he made a complaint relating to
the offence, the circumstances under which, and the terms in which, the
complaint was made, are relevant.
The fact that he said he had been robbed without making any complaint, is
not relevant, as conduct under this Article, though it may be relevant as a
dying declaration under Article 46 paragraph

(1), or as corroborative evidence
under Article 153.

Source and verification

Source citation: Qanun-e-Shahadat Order, 1984 (P.O. No. X of 1984) Art. 21: 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. 15, 16, 17, 18, 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

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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

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• Date not confirmed: Consolidated current text as published in the official Pakistan Code PDF (p. 15, 16, 17, 18) — reflects all amendments recorded in the official footnotes up to ingest date 2026-09-15. Automated transcription;…

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