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ACT IV OF 2016 ACT IV OF 2016 BALOCHISTAN WITNESS PROTECTION ACT, 2016 An Act to provide for protection of witnesses to enable them to give evidence in criminal proceedings in the Province of Balochistan [Gazette of Balochistan Extraordinary, 5th April, 2016] No. PAB/Legis:V(25)/2016, dated 5.4.2016.---The Balochistan Witness Protection Bill, 2015 (Bill No 25 of 2015) having been passed by the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan on 26th March 2016 and assented by the Governor, Balochistan on 29th March 2016 is hereby published as an Act of the Balochistan Provincial Assembly. Preamble.---WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for protection of witnesses to enable them to give evidence in criminal proceedings in the Province of Balochistan and for matters ancillary thereto; It is hereby enacted as follows: 2. Definitions.---In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context (a) Act means the Balochistan Witness Protection Act, 2016; (b) "Board means the Witness Protection Board constituted under section 5 of the Act; (c) criminal proceedings includes any criminal trial or inquiry before a court or tribunal having criminal jurisdiction, inquiry or inquest into death and a police investigation under the Code, and any investigation by any other authority under any law; (d) Code means the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act No.V of 1898); (e) Government means the Government of Balochistan; (f) Law Enforcement Agency includes a body or agency responsible for the enforcement of laws relating to the prevention, detection and investigation of any offence; (g) prescribed means prescribed by rules made under this Act; (h) Program means the Witness Protection Program established under this Act; (i) Protected Person means any person who has been placed under protection for the purposes of this Act; (j) Protection means the protection to a witness provided in terms of this Act and includes reallocation or change of identity of, or other related assistance or services provided to, or protected persons, as may be prescribed; (k) Related Person means any member of the family or household of the witness, or any other person in a close relationship to, or association with, such witness; (l) Rules means the rules made under this Act; (m) Schedule means the Schedule to this Act; (n) Serious Offence" means an offence against a provision of - (i) any law in force in the Province of Balochistan, for which the maximum penalty is death, or imprisonment for a period of not less than twelve months; (ii) offences under Pakistan Penal Code,1860; and (iii) offences as specified in the Schedule; (o) Unit means the Witness Protection Unit established under this Act; (p) "witness means a person who - (i) has made a statement, or has given or agreed or may be required to give evidence in relation to the commission or possible commission of a serious offence; (ii) because of his or her relationship to or association with a person referred to in clause (i), may require protection or other assistance under this Act; or (iii) a person in possession of, or provided any important information, statement or assistance to a public officer and has agreed to share the information with law enforcement agency and has agreed to give evidence on behalf of the State; (iv) for any other reason, may require protection or other assistance under this Act. (q) threatened witness means any witness in respect of whom, there is likelihood of danger to the safety of his or her life or life of his or her close relatives; or serious danger to his or her property or property of his or her close relatives, by reason of his or her being a witness.