17. Competence and number of witnesses.__ (1) The competence of a person to testify, and the
number of witnesses required in any case shall be determined in accordance with the injunctions of
Islam as laid down in the Holy Quran and Sunnah.
(2) Unless otherwise provided in any law relating to the enforcement of Hudood or any other
special law, —
(a) in matters pertaining to financial or future obligations, if reduced to writing, the instrument
shall be attested by two men, or one man and two women, so that one may remind the
other, if necessary, and evidence shall be led accordingly ; and
(b) in all other matters, the Court may accept, or act on, the testimony of one man or one
woman or such other evidence as the circumstances of the case may warrant.
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CHAPTER III
OF THE RELEVANCY OF FACTS
18. Evidence may be given of facts in issue and relevant facts. Evidence may be given in any
suit or proceeding of the existence or nonexistence of every fact in issue and of such other facts as
are hereinafter declared to be relevant, and of others.
Explanation.__ This Article shall not enable any person to give evidence of a fact which he is
disentitled to prove by any provision of the law for the time being in force relating to Civil Procedure.
Illustrations
(a) A is tried for the murder of B by beating him with a club with the intention of causing his
death.
At A's trial the following facts are in issue —
A's beating B with the club;
A's causing B's death by such beating;
A's intention to cause B's death.
(b) A suitor does not bring with him and have in readiness for production at the first hearing
of the case, a bond on which he relies. This Article does not enable him to produce the
bond or prove its contents at a subsequent stage of the proceedings, otherwise than in
accordance with the conditions prescribed by the law for the time being in force relating
to Civil Procedure.
19. Relevancy of facts forming part of some transaction. Facts which though not in issue, are
so connected with a fact in issue as to form part of the same transaction, are relevant, whether they
occurred at the same time and place or at different times and places.
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