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24

Publication of information concerning protected person

Act: Balochistan Witness Protection Act 2016

Section Provisions

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: 24. Publication of information concerning protected person.---Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force or any judgment of any court, the Protection Officer shall, at any proceedings instituted or conducted in terms of any law, in which the protected person is a party or a witness and in respect of which he or she is in terms of any law compellable to answer questions or to give evidence or to produce any book, record, document or object in his or her possession or under his or her control in such proceedings, make an order prohibiting the publication of any information, including any drawing, picture, illustration, painting, photograph, whether produced through or by means of computer software on a screen or a computer print-out, pamphlet, poster or other printed matter, which may disclose (a) the place of safety or location where he or she is or has been under protection or where he or she has been relocated in terms of this Act; (b) the circumstances relating to his or her protection: (c) the identity of any other protected person and the place of safety or location where such person is being protected; or (d) the relocation or change of identity of a protected person, unless the Chief Witness Protection Officer satisfies the protection officer concerned that exceptional circumstances which are in the interest of justice exist why such an order should not be made.