QSO 1984 § Article 139 — Evidence as to matters in writing

Statutory text (English)

Any witness may be asked, whilst under examination,
whether any contract, grant or other disposition of property, as to which he is giving evidence, was
not contained in a document, and if he says that it was, or if he is about to make any statement as to
the contents of any document, which, in the opinion of the Court, ought to be produced, the adverse
party may object to such evidence being given until such document is produced, or until facts have
been proved which entitle the party who called the witness to give secondary evidence of it.

Explanation.—A witness may give oral evidence of statements made by other persons about the
contents of documents if such statements are in themselves relevant facts.

Illustration
The question is, whether A assaulted B.
C deposes that he heard A say to D—"B wrote a letter accusing me of theft, and I will be
revenged on him". This statement is relevant, as showing A's motive for the assault, and evidence
may be given of it, though no other evidence is given about the letter.

Source and verification

Source citation: Qanun-e-Shahadat Order, 1984 (P.O. No. X of 1984) Art. 139: 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. 60, 61, 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. 60, 61) — reflects all amendments recorded in the official footnotes up to ingest date 2026-09-15. Automated transcription; per-amendment…

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