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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: 25. Offences relating to witness protection.--- (1) Any person who (a) willfully or negligently allows any unauthorized person to gain access to any protected person; (b) willfully or negligently discloses, in contravention of any provision of this Act (i) the identity of any protected person; (ii) information that a particular protected person is under protection; (iii) the place of safety or location where any person is under protection or has been relocated in terms of this Act; (iv) any information which could lead to the identification of any such person or any such place of safety; (v) any information which undermines or compromises or could undermine or compromise the integrity of a Witness Protection Program in terms of this Act; (vi) any information relating to the relocation or change of identity of a protected person; and (vii) any information that compromises the security of such a person; (c) willfully or negligently contravenes any provisions of exception contained in this Act regarding disclosure of information or in contravention of any conditions determined by the Chief Witness Protection Officer, shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction be liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years. (2) (a) Any person who (i) willfully interferes with, or hinders or obstructs the Chief Witness Protection Officer or any other member of the Unit in the exercise, performance or carrying out of any of his or her powers, functions and duties contemplated in this Act; or (ii) with intent to gain for himself or herself or for any other person protection in terms of this Act, makes any false statement or furnishes information that he or she knows to be untrue or misleading, shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction be liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years.